Mandla Mandela (left) also came under fire in February 2009, when he was accused of manipulating a frail Nelson Mandela into campaigning for the ANC despite concerns about his age. Here they are pictured at an ANC rally with Jacob Zuma (right). Mandla Mandela was on the ANC list to become a MP.
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RUTHLESS: Mandla Mandela is already cashing in on his grandfather Nelson Mandela’s death. Picture by Clement Lekanyane
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 We are all shocked and disgusted by Mandla’s action |
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Mandla has been avoiding several meetings arranged by the family this week - as we are trying to get an explanation from him |
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Madiba ‘buried alive’ - Grandson Mandla sells uTata’s funeral footage for R3m
Former president Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela stands accused of receiving more than R3 million for the exclusive rights to Madiba’s funeral – when he dies – to the SABC.
Mandla is also accused of hiding the details of this lucrative deal with the national broadcaster from other members of the Mandela family.
Mandla, who is a member of parliament and also chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council in the Eastern Cape, is the son of Madiba’s late son Makgatho Mandela.
The deal, coded ‘The M Project’ by the SABC, has a budget of about R700 million and was approved by former SABC head of news Snuki Zikalala some time last year.
Sunday World has established that everybody working on this project was forced to sign a confidentiality clause and sworn to secrecy.
A source working on the project claims the SABC was forced to outsource the money for the project as it is hoping to make a multi-million rand profit by sub-selling certain rights related to the former statesman’s funeral to other local and international TV channels.
The source says: “We have already done about 15 packages for The M Project, secured exclusive interviews with a number of people who are very close to Madiba”.
When contacted for comment on Friday, Zikalala confirmed the existence of The M Project.
He says: “There is nothing more I can say about The M Project as you are fully aware that we have all signed the confidentiality cause.”
Zikalala refused to say how much Mandla Mandela was paid.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago claimed to know nothing about The M Project.
He said: “I’m not aware of the project and also not aware of the SABC buying certain rights to anybody’s funeral.”
A member of the Mandela family confirms they were made aware of Mandla’s secret deal with the SABC on Tuesday.
The family member says:
“Someone from the SABC called the family and blew the whistle on this secret deal.
“We are all shocked and disgusted by Mandla’s action.
“How can he sell rights to his grandfather’s funeral while uTata is still alive?
“Mandla has been avoiding several meetings arranged by the family this week - as we are trying to get an explanation from him.
“He has switched off his phone and is not reachable.
“We are not sure how much he was paid, but our source at the SABC says he made more than R3m from this deal.”
Mandla couldn’t be reached for comment and failed to return several messages left on his cellphone.
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Sunday World
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