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Mandelas at war as reality shows, T-shirts and feuds over cash trash Nelson's legacy

Mandelas at war as reality shows, T-shirts and feuds over cash trash Nelson's legacy
The soap opera really gripping South Africa is the unseemly scramble by his extended family to cash in on his name
Granddaughters: Swati and Zazizwe
the opening episode of South Africa’s newest reality show has two wealthy teenagers bickering about boys and bantering with a shop assistant.Only when the girls pay a visit to Robben Island – the remote jail that once held prisoner 46664, Nelson Mandela – does it become clear this is not quite Keeping up with the Kardashians.The show is Being Mandela – and the stars are Swati Dlamini and Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway, two of the anti-apartheid hero’s 17 grandchildren.But as a frail 94-year-old Mandela recovers from an acute lung infection, the soap opera really gripping South Africa is the unseemly scramble by his extended family to cash in on his name.Mandela is second only to Coca-Cola as a global brand.And the battle for the rights to exploit it has turned Mandela against Mandela and his grandchildren against some of his oldest, most trusted advisers.Even as he receives medical care at his Johannesburg home, a string of undignified money-making ventures bear the Mandela name.
Frail: South African icon Nelson Mandela is recovering after lung infection
The Being Mandela reality show has horrified South Africans as demeaning the beloved statesman.
Swati and Zaziwe are daughters of Zenani Mandela, whose parents are Winnie Mandela and the former South African President.They have an incongruous LWTF – Long Walk To Freedom – fashion line, selling T-shirts with Mandela’s image.There is also a wine label – House of Mandela – featuring a wine named “Madiba”, Mandela’s affectionate clan name, set up by his only surviving daughter from his first marriage, Makaziwe, also known as Maki.And there is to be a Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela boxing match in a casino in Monaco organised by first family grandsons Ndaba and Kweku.Meanwhile, there are rumours – fiercely denied – that one of Mandela’s grandchildren has already sold the rights to his grandfather’s funeral to South African Television.Then, earlier this month – within hours of their frail father leaving hospital – two of the former President’s daughters began a court case aimed at gaining control of the Mandela millions.
Tacky: House of Mandela wine
“The open bickering in the Mandela family is shameful, given the frailty of the former President,” says a recent editorial in South Africa’s Sunday Times entitled, “Greedy hands in the Mandela cookie jar”.“It is downright embarrassing to witness how a man to whom this country owes an untold debt and who is known as the father of our nation is being torn apart by those closest to him,” it states.Mandela has been married three times and has six children and 17 grandchildren.Until this month, there has been deep rivalry between the offspring of his first two wives – Evelyn Mase who he divorced in 1958 and who died in 2004, and Winnie Madikizela Mandela who he divorced in 1996, six years after leaving prison.
Both sides have accused the other of exploiting the family name.

Merchandise: Long walk to freedom t-shirt
This new court case has seen the two sides joined together for the first time with a common cause – to bring a lawsuit against several of the former president’s business associates, including renowned human rights lawyer George Bizos and fellow Robben Island inmate and current cabinet minister Tokyo Sexwale.One of his grandchildren, Tukwini, has gone so far as to personally attack 84-year-old Bizos, who famously defended Mandela against the death penalty in 1964.In an open letter she accused him of “blatant lies” and claimed her grandfather’s trial, “catapulted you to undeserved stardom”.Tukwini’s mother Makaziwe – from Mandela’s first marriage to Evelyn – and Zenani – from his second marriage to Winnie – are trying to get at a reported £1.1million from two companies that support the families.The funds mainly come through the sale of images of Mandela’s handprint.izos, who is a long-time friend of Mandela and currently defending victims of last year’s Marikana mining massacre – says Makaziwe was recently refused access to the family trust.
Row: Winnie and her daughter Zenani
Reuters
“This woman wanted to take over the money and distribute it to members of the family,” he said.“That is contrary to the provisions of the trust. Therefore we refused.” Mandela’s lawyer Norton Rose adds: “our clients record their dismay at the insensitivity of the applicants” in bringing the case “at this time” – while their father was only just recovering from a period in intensive care.Friends point out he has already set up trusts for all his close family for after his death.Mandela’s extraordinary dignity has always been central to his status as global icon, international statesman and South African hero.In 2007, he was so determined to call time on the cult of Mandela he insisted his image was removed from all ­charitable merchandise – hence the use of his ­handprint and prison paintings.No wonder South Africans are watching Being Mandela from behind their hands.South African comedian Daniel Friedman tweeted: “It should be a series. Gandhi’s grandkids go shopping. The Dalai Lama’s grandkids have dinner.”Pre-show publicity included interviews where the granddaughters cringingly claimed Mandela likes watching US child beauty pageant show Toddlers and Tiaras – as evidence that he would love their venture into reality television.
Grandson: Mandla Mandela
Mandela’s biographer David James Smith says he feels some sympathy for Mandela’s children, who have struggled to live in his shadow and grew up neglected and, at times, afraid.“Mandela was so busy being father to a nation he had little time to be a father to his own children,” he says.“Now they feel they are owed something. They are trying to provide for their families and struggle to live with this huge name.”He points out that two grandsons from Mandela’s first marriage Ndaba and his cousin Kweku – who have set up Africa Rising Foundation – are at least attempting to do something charitable with their famous surname.Yet there are deep fears that when Mandela eventually makes his final long walk home, his family will become engulfed by bitterness and greed.“When I was in South Africa recently, his granddaughter described Mandela as the glue that binds the family together,” Smith says.“There’s an increasing fractiousness, with the two families feeling they are entitled to the Mandela name.”It is not just the Mandela family but the nation whose freedom he gave his life to that now faces losing that unifying glue.
Wife number 2: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
As South Africa stands poised on the brink of being without Mandela, the unseemly fight among his children is a metaphor for the future of his country. South Africa has not felt as unstable – or divided – since the apartheid era.An authoritative documentary this week by South African-born Labour politician Peter Hain showed how the Marakana miners’ massacre is just one symptom of a country described by a key ANC figure as “in deep crisis”.The achievements of modern South Africa are not Mandela’s alone.But without his unifying strength, without his decency, humility and forgiveness – and his power as an icon, it is in danger of becoming just another African country riven by post-colonial poverty and corruption.Without Mandela, the glue that has held the country together, South Africa must find new unity – even as the former first family tears itself apart.

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