Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela and his Pietermaritzburg-born sweetheart will exchange vows over the Christmas weekend.
However, few details of the wedding, which is expected to take place on Saturday at Mvezo village, outside Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, have been revealed. The 36-year-old ANC MP, who is also a chief, already has two wives. He will tie the knot with Mbali Makhathini, of Pelham in Pietermaritzburg.
Little is known about her, but on Monday a Durban Zulu newspaper revealed that she was a student at the Mangosuthu University of Technology in Umlazi.
Makhathini and senior Eastern Cape traditional leaders said that Mandela, who is also currently engaged to Swazi Princess Sipheweyena Dlamini, had advised them to keep mum on the wedding.
“I’m not prepared to talk about this because Mandela is against this being communicated to the media. He is a very traditional man, and he wants things done his way,” said Makhathini.
She said she would ask for permission from Mandela to talk to the media, but later said he was against the idea.
Chief Phathekile Holomisa, a senior traditional leader in the Eastern Cape, said he had been invited to the ceremony. Chief Zwelenqaba Mgudlwa, who is close to the Mandela family, would only say that the groom’s family was busy with preparations. He said he hoped that Mandela senior would also attend the nuptials. Mandla Mandela’s cellphone went unanswered.
Mandela is also married to Reunion Island-born 19-year-old Anais Grimaud-Mandela and estranged from 31-year-old former SAA employee Tando Mabunu-Mandela. – Pretoria News
Continue Reading:
Madiba’s grandson to tie the knot