Mandela’s grandson to face assault charges

Mandla is accused of brandishing a gun at another man

The spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, in South Africa, Luxolo Tyali, on Monday, said Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela would be charged with assault and brandishing a gun at another man.

According to Mr. Tyali, the development was further embarrassment to the anti-apartheid hero’s large and fractious family.

The South Africa Sunday Times newspaper quoted Mr. Tyali as saying that. “The NPA has decided to prosecute him and summons have been issued.”

He said Mandla was reported to have drawn a gun on a 44-year-old teacher whose vehicle collided with one driven by a guest of his.

The newspaper said the teacher had to undergo emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain.

However, the spokesperson for Mandla said the incident never happened and the accusation was pure fabrication.

Mr. Tyali spelled out the charges facing Mandla but declined to give details of the incident.

Mandla made headlines earlier this year when a judge ordered him to return the remains of three of Mr. Mandela’s children, including those of his father, from a memorial centre dedicated to his grandfather, where he had moved them two years ago.

Mandla had been sued by more than a dozen of Mr. Mandela’s relatives who wanted the remains returned.

He said that as the local head of the family, it was within his rights to bury the remains on his property.

The former president, Mr. Mandela, 95, spent nearly three months in hospital this year for a lung infection that left him in critical condition.

He has been receiving care at his Johannesburg home since early September.

(Reuters/NAN)