Nelson Mandela’s oldest grandson and a member of the South African parliament, Zwelivelile ‘Mandla’ Mandela has been charged with serious assault after an altercation with a teacher during which he drew a firearm, according to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
Mr Mandela, 39, is said to have attacked Mlamli Ngudle and pointed a gun at him after the teacher reportedly crashed into a car belonging to one of Mandela’s business partners at a function in the city of Mthatha.
Last Thursday 16 January at the Regional Court in the city, Senior Public Prosecutor Jongikhaya Busakwe laid out two charges against Mr Mandela – assault with intent to do grevious bodily harm and pointing a firearm, SABC said.
Mandela made no plea, though he appeared at the hearing.
He is being defended by Kenny Oldwage, the high profile local attorney who represented Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, charged with shooting dead his girlfriend on Valentines’ Day in 2013.
The case was postponed to February 24 after Oldwage pointed out that the defence had only received the police file in the morning.
Mr Mandela has been surrounded by controversy in recent months.
