Cape Town - Mandla Mandela has refused to be drawn on reports that he is at the centre of a “war” within the Mandela family.
The Times reported on Tuesday that Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla had been “pushed out” of the family’s homestead in Qunu, four days before Sunday’s funeral.
It said locks had been changed, that the water and electricity had been cut off and that no transport to the funeral was provided for Mandla’s mother, Nolusapho, or for her sister.
Mandla Mandela, who is a chief and whose preferred formal name is Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, said through his spokesman Freddy Pilusa: “I am not going to confirm nor deny the contents of this story in The Times.
“All I can say is that Chief Mandela would prefer to focus on upholding and preserving the legacy of Madiba. His priority will be to concentrate on doing good for his community and contribute to serving the people of this country.”
In a statement on Monday, he said: “I, like most in the family, told myself that when the eventuality of Madiba’s passing arrives, I would not mourn but celebrate all that is good that he has left within me and for the world. I was however mistaken because the pain of losing him unexpectedly got to me like one pierced by a sharp spear.”
He also said: “The first few days I felt alone, even though I was surrounded by family and friends” - but made no mention of any of the reported tensions within the broader Mandela family.
He did say: “The goodwill that rained on us as a family from people of this world has touched me deeply and I am sure it has had the same effect to all of us as Madiba’s children, his grandchildren and great grandchildren. It felt as though Madiba was using the goodwill of the people of South Africa and the world to send special messages to each one of us.”
Mandela was married three times, fathered six children, 17 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Mandla Mandela is a grandson born from Mandela’s first marriage, to Evelyn Ntoko Mase, with whom he had two sons, one of whom was Makgatho Mandela, who was Mandla’s father. He died in 2005.
Mandla Mandela became chief of the Mvezo tribal council in 2007 and is thus viewed as Mandela’s “heir apparent”. However, a long-running feud has since raged between Mandla Mandela and members of his extended family - in particular his aunt, Makaziwe - who led a successful campaign to exhume the remains of Mandela’s children in Mvezo and return them to Qunu.
The Times newspaper published the allegations without comment from Makaziwe on their veracity, as the newspaper could not reach her prior to publication.
Cape Argus