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Robot
- Feb 11, 2006
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The grandson of South Africa's freedom icon, Nelson Mandela, has dismissed reports that he had sold exclusive rights of the anti-apartheid champion's funeral to the state broadcaster for millions.
Mandla Mandela, who is a member of parliament for the ruling ANC, said "I don't know what you are talking about. I have no deals with the SABC. It's shocking news. We will discuss it with the family", reacting to a report that he had reached an agreement with the SABC for a fee of Rand 3 million (USD 3,75,000).
The SABC, state broadcaster has put in place a programme called the "M Plan" when Mandela dies, the newspaper had reported.
Mandla said he would respond fully to the allegations later this week.
The reports have raised a storm of protest from Mandela supporters and opposition parties.
The official Democratic Alliance opposition said today they would call for an inquiry into the allegations.
The DA spokesperson on communications, Niekie van den Berg, said: "It is difficult to believe that the SABC would have entered into negotiations to attain commercial rights, or sub-sell these rights to make a multimillion-rand profit on the whole event, as the report claims."
"The SABC must now explain exactly what commercial rights it has purchased, and prove that this payment was above board," she said.
The SABC, however, said it was unaware of any contract being reached with Mandla Mandela.
SABC spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, said they definitely had an "M Plan" but this did not mean they had entered into any agreement with Mandla Mandela.
