Mandela will miss World Cup opening ceremony due to death in the family

Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter Zenani aged 13, died in a car crash when she was being escorted home from a World Cup celebratory concert in Soweto. Zenani had only just celebrated her 13th birthday on 9 June. Nelson Mandela will miss the World Cup opening ceremony to take time to grieve.

Reports reveal that the driver of the car has been arrested on drink driving charges. The car overturned, killing Zenani, while the driver survived the accident unscathed. Due to his intoxicated state, the driver lost control of the car, which hit a barrier and overturned. The roads were busy with traffic leaving the concert.

Nelson Mandela's former wife was not involved in the accident but she was taken to hospital and treated for shock when she learned of the accident.

Nelson Mandela was due to attend the World Cup opening ceremony, which has attracted many sporting and political celebrities, including US President Barrack Obama. The World Cup opening ceremony will be a colourful extravaganza of dancing, singing and flag bearing.

South African roads are notoriously dangerous. In South Africa, 50 people a day die on the roads, compared to around 7 a day in Britain.

Other recent deaths on South African roads include the death of three students after their safari bus crashed. Many others were seriously injured in the accident and have been admitted to hospital. The accident happened just a day before they were due to fly home. Police are investigating the incident to determine whether or not to charge the driver.

Over the next month, the roads in South Africa will become congested with traffic travelling to World Cup matches, and many will want to attend the World Cup opening ceremony.

If you are driving in South Africa, take extra care when you are on the roads. As a foreign driver you will be more vulnerable than most, as you'll be driving on unfamiliar roads where the driving style will be different.

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