Mandela's grandsons drown their sorrows

JUST two hours after Nelson Mandela's funeral in Qunu in the Eastern Cape last week, his grandchildren splashed out on beers, whisky and imported champagne.

One of the grandchildren, Ndaba, 31, even opened a beer and began drinking it in the parking lot of a shopping centre in Mthatha.

Police officers were parked alongside the BMW X5 into which the alcohol was being loaded.

"Come on, it had been a stressful day," said Ndaba when asked about the drinking. "I bought booze for me and my cousins."

Earlier, Ndaba had delivered an eulogy to his grandfather at a sombre ceremony attended by more than 4500 mourners and watched by about 2.5billion on TV worldwide.

"I personally don't see anything wrong ... we simply bought the alcohol and went back home, that's it," he said.

Ndaba, who is a director and shareholder of several businesses, denied that he had drunk a beer in the car park.

"We didn't even consume alcohol in the parking lot. That's just ridiculous," he said.

Nandi, one of Mandela's grandchildren who was not part of the group at the liquor store, said Madiba often disciplined Ndaba and his younger brother, Mbuso.

"Madiba was very strict and would make his grandsons, Mbuso and Ndaba, pick up clothes they had thrown on the floor," she said, speaking on behalf of Mandela's grandchildren and great-grandchildren at his funeral.

Earlier, Ndaba also told BBC World News about the pressure of bearing the Mandela name.

"It's a lot of pressure because this is arguably the greatest man that ever lived ..."

Mbuso, 22, who was still wearing his black suit, joked with cashiers and customers at the liquor store as he bought Veuve Clicquot, a French champagne, and beers. Mbuso is a former drug addict who was admitted into rehab .

Mandla Mandela claimed last year that Mbuso had had an affair with his wife, Anais Grimaud, who has since returned to her home in Reunion.

He also claimed that Mbuso had fathered Grimaud's child.

Earlier this year, Mbuso refused to comment on the allegation, but he spoke about his alcohol and drug addictions, which he said had lasted for four years.

He said he had been booked into a Johannesburg rehab and had been sober since.

"The last time I went there was in March this year and I think I'm fine now," he said.

On Friday, members of the family declined to comment.

Napilisi Mandela, a family elder, said: "We do not know what you are talking about ... we know they were with us.

"So we cannot comment on what we do not know."

But traditionalists and religious leaders have criticised the young Mandelas.

Dr Nokuzola Mndende, a former African indigenous religions lecturer at the University of Cape Town, said drinking on the day of the funeral wa s taboo. "They should have remained at home until the next day," Mndende said.

"They were not meant to have even left the yard unless there was an emergency such as an illness. It can be viewed as serious disrespect. It's defying death. On the day of the funeral you cannot at all be seen outside the gate of your home."

Thousands gathered on Sunday last week at the homestead where a giant white marquee for international guests, family and friends was erected.

Mandela's portrait looked over the assembly from behind a glow of 95 candles representing each year of his life.