Mandela grandson ‘sold funeral rights’

Nelson Mandela's "favourite" grandson has denied reports that he has tried to cash in on the death and funeral of the former South African President.

Mandla Mandela (pictured above with his grandfather), an African National Congress (ANC) MP, is alleged to have sold the rights for the ceremony to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for three million rand (£228,620). Johannesburg's Sunday World newspaper quoted an anonymous family source, who claimed the 34-year-old had agreed the arrangement without quoting any other members of the family. His relatives "are all shocked and disgusted".

The Sunday World said that the SABC, which is in dire financial trouble with debts of around £76m, hoped to make huge profits from Mandela's funeral by selling on the rights to international broadcasting stations.

Funeral plans for Nelson Mandela, who is 91 next month and looks increasingly frail, are not officially discussed. But it is an open secret that a planning committee has been set up to oversee what will be the biggest funeral in South Africa's history. Last month a former SABC executive, Snuki Zikalala, confirmed that around £54 million has been set aside for 'Project M'.

International broadcasters are already jostling for positions in the Eastern Cape village where Mandela will be laid to rest, with some TV companies reported to have bought land there. The media are also quietly opening their chequebooks to Mandela family members to gain access.

Earlier this year Mandla, a former businessman who was elected to parliament in April, was accused of manipulating his grandfather into a public appearance to help his election campaign, despite Nelson Mandela being so frail he was unable to speak.

Mandla said the funeral allegations were a "blatant lie". He told the Star on Sunday: "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." ·