Mandla Mandela
Mandla Mandela | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974 (age 49–50) Orlando East, Soweto, South Africa |
| Occupation(s) | Tribal chief, politician |
| Spouse | Tando Mabunu |
| Parent(s) | Makgatho Mandela and Rose Rayne Mandela-Perry |
Zwelivelile "Mandla" Mandela (born 1974) is the chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and the grandson of Nelson Mandela.[1][2] He graduated from Rhodes University with a degree in Politics in 2007.[3]
His father, Makgatho Mandela, died in 2005, which paved his way to the head of the tribe. As the tribe did not discuss electing a member from the Mandela family until 2007, he was chosen as successor. Nelson Mandela had given up the right of Xhosa leader nearly 70 years ago to fight white rule in South Africa. As the tribe looked to Nelson Mandela to reclaim his clan, he suggested his grandson assume the role. When the younger Mandela became chief in 2007, he was only 32 years old and most of his duties were said to involve tribal ceremonies, settling disputes among tribe members, and representing the tribe on political issues.
Mandela has been a member of parliament for the African National Congress since the 2009 election.[4]
Mandela attended Waterford Kamhlaba a United World College in Swaziland until 1995.
Personal life
His first wife is Tando Mabuna-Mandela. They married in June 2004 in a civil ceremony.[5] She is filing for divorce, and the annulment of his other marriages. She claims he is infertile.[citation needed]
His second wife is Anaïs Grimaud, French citizen born in 1990 in Réunion, who changed her name to Nkosikazi Nobubele. They married in March 2010 in a traditional ceremony. She gave birth in September 2011 to Qheya II Zanethemba Mandela, who was presented to his great grandfather Nelson Mandela at a naming ceremony in Qunu. In August 2012 he denied paternity, claiming it was the result of an affair with his brother.[6][7][8]
His third wife is, Mbali Makhathini (Nodiyala Mandela), whom he married on 24 December 2011 at Mvezo .
On 6 February, he married his fourth wife, Raabia Clarke in an Islamic ceremony in Cape town. Mandela converted to Islam about two months prior to the wedding.
Controversy
Members of the Mandela family approached the Mthatha High Court in July 2013 to force Mandela to return the remains of three of Nelson Mandela's children to Qunu. Mandela had moved them to Mvezo, without consulting the Mandela family in 2011. The family also laid a criminal case of tampering with a grave. A South African High Court Judge, Judge Lusindiso Phakade, ruled in favour of the complainants. He ordered Mandela to exhume and rebury the bodies[9]
References
- ^ "Genealogy". Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. Nelson Mandela Foundation. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ Mabena, Khethiwe (9 June 2009). "'Mandla' tells court to use his real name". The Times. Archived from the original on 10 June 2009.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Quinn, Andrew (16 April 2007). "Mandela's grandson becomes tribal chief, political heir". Reuters.
- ^ "Mandela grandson enters politics". BBC News. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
- ^ ‘Not my son,’ says Mandla Mandela IOL
- ^ Ex gives shock support to Mandela paternity denial Times
- ^ “He’s Not My Son” – Nelson Mandela’s Grandson Mandla Mandela Kicks Out His Second Wife Anais Grimaud – DNA Test revealed “Son” Qheya fathered by his Brother
- ^ Mandla Mandela 'infertile', court told IOL
- ^ http://ewn.co.za/2013/07/03/Mandla-Mandela-ordered-to-return-remains
External links
- Mandela's grandson a Xhosa chief
- Mandela family united by grief and fight against Aids
- Mandela's legacy
