Winnie Mandela accused of meddling in grandson's rape case

JOHANNESBURG: A spokesman for the family of the teenager accusing Nelson Mandela’s grandson of rape says Winnie Madikizela-Mandela tried to derail a complaint.
The spokesman said Wednesday that Madikizela-Mandela, the late Mandela’s divorced wife, sent her bodyguard to the 15-year-old girl’s home. The spokesman said the bodyguard posed as a policeman but had no badge. The spokesman, who refused to allow his name to be used by any of the media, said the bodyguard then revealed that he was there on behalf of Madikizela-Mandela.
The spokesman said Madikizela-Mandela promised to ask the provincial police commissioner to handle the case. The family reported the rape when they did not hear from Madikizela-Mandela again.
Madikizela-Mandela’s office has not responded to questions.
Mbuso Mandela, 24, is in police custody and will appear in a Johannesburg magistrates court on Friday for a bail hearing, said police spokeswoman Brig. Mashadi Selepe. He appeared briefly in court Monday when he was charged with rape.
The rape allegedly took place at a restaurant in Greenside, a Johannesburg suburb, on Aug. 7, Selepe said. The matter was reported to police a week later and Mandela was arrested last Saturday, she said.
Mbuso Mandela is one of late statesman Nelson Mandela's 17 grandchildren. Mandela died in 2013 at the age of 95.