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JOHANNESBURG (AP)\u2014Nelson Mandela\u2019s 13-year-old great-granddaughter was killed in a car crash, forcing the former president to forego a hoped-for appearance at the World Cup\u2019s opening game Friday.<\/p>\n
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The Nelson Mandela Foundation said Zenani Mandela died in a one-car accident after attending Thursday\u2019s World Cup kickoff concert at the Orlando Stadium.<\/p>\n
The foundation later confirmed Mandela would not attend the World Cup opening ceremony and first game in Johannesburg, dashing hopes the frail 91-year-old former president would make a rare appearance. Mandela and his family were \u201ctorn up\u201d by the accident, the foundation said at its Johannesburg office.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Nelson Mandela this morning learnt of the tragic death in an accident of his great granddaughter Zenani Mandela,\u201d foundation spokesman Sello Hatang said, reading from a prepared statement. \u201cIt would therefore be inappropriate for him to personally attend the FIFA World Cup opening celebrations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are sure that South Africans and people all over the world will stand in solidarity with Mr. Mandela and his family in the aftermath of this tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johannesburg Metro police spokeswoman Edna Mamonyane said the driver of the car, a man, had been arrested and charged with drink-driving. Mamonyane said the driver, who police would not name, could also face culpable homicide charges.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Metro police found that he was drunk,\u201d Mamonyane said. \u201cHe lost control of the vehicle and it collided with a barricade.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police spokesman Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said the driver would appear in court for a preliminary hearing Friday, after which he would be named.<\/p>\n
The Mandela foundation denied reports that the former president\u2019s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was in the car, but said she was treated in hospital for shock after being told of the fatal accident, and she was discharged after a few hours.<\/p>\n
She later attended the opening ceremony, with her two daughters.<\/p>\n
FIFA president Sepp Blatter wrote to Mandela to \u201cconvey the condolences of the entire football family.\u201d<\/p>\n
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who was in South Africa to lead his country\u2019s delegation to the opening ceremony, also expressed condolences, as did South Africa\u2019s governing African National Congress party.<\/p>\n
Zenani, who celebrated her 13th birthday Wednesday, was one of the anti-apartheid icon\u2019s nine great-grandchildren.<\/p>\n
Mandela, who turns 92 on July 18, has largely retired from public life although it had been anticipated he would make a brief appearance at the World Cup opening ceremony Friday, depending on his health and the weather.<\/p>\n
In a statement Thursday, the Foundation said it had been \u201cinundated with requests for meetings, and it will be impossible for Mr. Mandela to accede to even a small fraction of these.\u201d But Mandela met this week with members of the Black Eyed Peas, one of the main acts at Thursday\u2019s concert, and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Carlos Queiroz\u2014the latter a former coach of South Africa.<\/p>\n
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