Mandela's grandson cited for Western Sahara remarks
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is investigating remarks made by Nelson Mandela's grandson during the opening ceremony of the African Nations Championship in Algeria.
The body said it will assess whether there was compliance with rules laid out by both CAF and global football’s governing body FIFA.
The Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) protested after the comments made at the opening ceremony on Friday where Zwelivelile Mandela was a guest of the local organising committee.
The ceremony was held at the newly-built Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers.
In his speech, Mandela reportedly described the Western Sahara as the last colony of Africa and “let us fight to free Western Sahara from oppression”.
FMRF claims the statement had no connection to football and was intended to ridicule Morocco.
Mandela also led the crowd of 40,000 people to chant “free Palestine”.
“These political statements are not the statements of CAF and do not reflect the views or opinions of CAF as a politically neutral organisation,” CAF said in a statement.
Mandela is the tribal chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and the grandson of Nelson Mandela.
His father, Makgatho Mandela, died in 2005, which paved his way to the headship of the clan.
Nelson Mandela had given up the right of clan leader nearly 70 years ago to fight against Apartheid.
-0- PANA CU/MA 17Jan2023
