Tragic: Zenani Mandela was killed in a car crash last week as she left the World Cup concert
Mandla Mandela pays tribute to the schoolgirl, who was described as a 'natural star
Loving family: Mandela is helped into the service, while Zenani's school friends hold flowers in her memory
Grief: Mandela's daughter Zenani, a great-aunt of the 13-year-old, hugs a fellow mourner during the service at the St Stithians College Chapel in Sandton, north of Johannesburg.A sombre and frail Nelson Mandela attended the funeral for his 13-year-old great-granddaughter today, after she was killed in a car crash following the World Cup's opening concert.
The 91-year-old anti-apartheid icon leaned on a walking stick as he entered the brick chapel of the Johannesburg private school Zenani Mandela had attended.
Dressed in a black coat and wearing a corsage of pink roses, he took a front row pew after being ferried to the chapel door by golf buggy.
His great-granddaughter 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.
A private burial was held earlier today, and the public were welcomed to the Methodist chapel service, with several hundred people attending, including an overflow crowd in a tent outside.
Mr Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, accompanied him. Also present was his ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Zenani's great-grandmother, lawyer George Bizos, who had defended Mandela during the apartheid years, and Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela.
An anguished message was read during the service from Zenani's mother, Zoleka Mandela-Seakamela - the daughter of Zindzi Mandela, the former president's youngest child.
Mandela-Seakamela said she wished she had indulged her daughter more, allowing her to sleep in late and wear make-up.
'I should have given you more hugs, more kisses,' Mandela-Seakamela said.
'If I did all this, would you come back to me, if only for a few seconds?'
If there were tears, there was also laughter Zenani was remembered as a playful, precocious child who liked Hannah Montana and the World Cup anthem 'Waka Waka.
The 91-year-old anti-apartheid icon leaned on a walking stick as he entered the brick chapel of the Johannesburg private school Zenani Mandela had attended.
Dressed in a black coat and wearing a corsage of pink roses, he took a front row pew after being ferried to the chapel door by golf buggy.
His great-granddaughter 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.
A private burial was held earlier today, and the public were welcomed to the Methodist chapel service, with several hundred people attending, including an overflow crowd in a tent outside.
Mr Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, accompanied him. Also present was his ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Zenani's great-grandmother, lawyer George Bizos, who had defended Mandela during the apartheid years, and Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela.
An anguished message was read during the service from Zenani's mother, Zoleka Mandela-Seakamela - the daughter of Zindzi Mandela, the former president's youngest child.
Mandela-Seakamela said she wished she had indulged her daughter more, allowing her to sleep in late and wear make-up.
'I should have given you more hugs, more kisses,' Mandela-Seakamela said.
'If I did all this, would you come back to me, if only for a few seconds?'
If there were tears, there was also laughter Zenani was remembered as a playful, precocious child who liked Hannah Montana and the World Cup anthem 'Waka Waka.
No comments:
Post a Comment