Magistrate postpones Madiba great-grandchild case
2010-08-27 14:30
The case against a 23-year-old man accused of killing Nelson Mandela’s great-granddaughter in a car crash was postponed in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court today.
“The purpose is for the state to conclude its investigation and to assign a trial court,” Magistrate PJ du Plessis said in postponing the case against Sizwe Mankazana until November 5.
“If there appears to be unreasonable delay, then there should be an investigation,” he said.
Du Plessis said the state should be held responsible if its case was not prepared because it had issued Mankazana a summons. Mankazana faces charges of drunk driving and culpable homicide.
Defence counsel Kenny Oldwadge told the court that the forensic report “is going to take months” as it would require overseas feedback because of “the luxury German vehicle” involved in the accident.
Prosecutor Rodger Mareume said the investigator was in South Africa, but could not confirm whether he was consulting with the car manufacturer in Germany.
Thirteen-year-old Zenani Zanethemba Nomasonto Mandela died in a car crash after the World Cup opening ceremony in Soweto. She was the great-granddaughter of Nelson Mandela and the granddaughter of Zindzi Mandela, the daughter of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Mankazana is the son of Zenani Mandela-Dlamini’s partner, Zwelakhe Mankazana, a businessman with interests in mining and a director of cellular operator Cell C.
- SAPA