Nelson Mandela bids farewell to his beloved great-granddaughter

Close: Zenani had a strong relationship with her great-grandfather
12 April 2012

A frail Nelson Mandela today attended the funeral of his 13-year-old great-granddaughter, who was killed in a car crash after the World Cup's opening concert.

The 91-year-old anti-apartheid campaigner emerged stiffly from a car, leaning 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 took a front pew. His face sombre, he wore a corsage of pink roses on the lapel of his black coat.

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

Zenani was a member of the choir, marimba club and drum corps of St Stithians College where her funeral was held, and wanted to be a plastic surgeon.

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

A private burial was held earlier. The public were welcomed to the chapel service, and several hundred people attended, including a crowd in an overflow tent outside. Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, accompanied him. Also present was his ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who is Zenani's great-grandmother.

Zenani's classmates, in school blazers, and other mourners each held a single white rose. They stood to sing Amazing Grace as the funeral began before a montage of family portraits, including one of Zenani hugging Mandela, on a screen as Lean on Me played.

The programme, emblazoned with Zenani's smiling face surrounded by hearts and pink rosebuds, declared: "For an angel gone too soon."

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