Funeral of Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter

2010-06-17 44


A sombre and frail Nelson Mandela has attended the funeral of his great-granddaughter, Zenani.


The 13-year-old was killed in a car crash after the World Cup's opening concert.


The 91-year-old anti-apartheid icon emerged stiffly from a car and leaned on a walking stick.


He was ferried in a golf cart to the brick chapel of the Johannesburg private school Zenani Mandela had attended and sat in a front pew, his third wife, Graca Machel, accompanying him.


Also present was his ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who is Zenani's great-grandmother.


After Zenani died, Mandela decided not to attend the tournament's opening ceremony and first game, as had been planned. His public appearances are increasingly rare.


A private burial was held earlier, with public welcomed to the chapel service. Several hundred people attended, including an overflow crowd in a tent outside, where they could listen to the service.


Zenani's classmates in school blazers and other mourners each held a single white rose. They stood to sing "Amazing Grace", before a montage of family portraits, including one of Zenani hugging Nelson Mandela, was projected on a screen.


Police say a close family friend who was driving the car that crashed, killing her, on the night of June 10 could be charged with drunk driving and homicide.