Siyavuya Mzantsi
DEMOCRATIC South Africa’s first president the late Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, has converted to Islam and tied the knot during a Muslim ceremony in Cape Town over the weekend.
“I am honoured and delighted to announce my marriage to Rabia Clarke in Cape Town on February 6, 2016. I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Rabia’s parents, her extended family and the Muslim community for welcoming me into their hearts. Although Rabia and I were raised in different cultural and religious traditions, our coming together reflects what we have in common: We are South Africans,” Mandela said.
The ceremony was officiated by former Muslim Judicial Council president Sheikh Ebrahim Gabriels at the Hidayatul Islam Mosque in Kensington.
Chairperson of the mosque committee, Dawood Esack, confirmed the wedding took place there, but would not be drawn to comment further.
Pictures of the wedding were widely distributed via social media at the weekend and showed Mandela smartly dressed in a suit. His wife wore a long white wedding gown at the ceremony, attended by about 50 people.
Sheikh Riyadh Walls, who was at the wedding ceremony, said it was pleasing to see someone from AbaThembu converting to Islam.
“He converted to Islam in November in Lenasia, Johannesburg. I met him on Wednesday and I exchanged some advice with him and he got married on Saturday. Sheikh Gabriels officiated that ceremony.”