Johannesburg – A court appearance by former president Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla on gun-related charges was delayed on Thursday, amid rumours of a family meeting at the critically ill icon’s home.
“He’s not appearing tomorrow [Friday],” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Luxolo Tyali told AFP.
“His lawyers have made arrangements that he presents himself to court on the 12th of December.”
Mandela’s grandson was due to appear in court on Friday in the Eastern Cape to answer charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and pointing a firearm related to a road incident in October.
“My client left the Eastern Cape this morning, to where I don’t know,” his advocate Matthew Mpahlwa told AFP.
Meanwhile vehicles lined the street outside the 95-year-old Mandela’s house in Johannesburg where he is receiving around the clock home-based intensive care.
‘Deathbed’
Earlier this week, Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe said her father was still fighting from his “deathbed” and was still “very strong” and “very courageous”.
“Even when there are moments when you can see he’s struggling, but the fighting spirit is still there with him.”
Grandson Ndaba told the SABC that Mandela was “not doing well at home in bed” where he been treated since being discharged from a nearly three month hospital stay for a lung infection earlier this year.
Mac Maharaj, spokesperson for the presidency, which is the official channel for updates on Mandela’s health, said his condition of stable but critical, was unchanged.
“My last update stands,” he said.
The prosecution said Mandla’s court delay, which was arranged on Thursday, was normal practice, but did not give details of the lawyers’ discussions.
“It’s a normal practice more especially when someone is not around because he’s apparently not in the province so we do understand,” said Tyali. – AFP
