THE father of the driver, charged with the death of former president Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter, says his son's acquittal does not call for any celebration.
Sizwe Mankazana, 25, was found not guilty of causing the crash that claimed the life of Zenani Mandela in 2010.
Speaking to Sowetan in an exclusive interview at the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court, Sizwe's father Zwelakhe Mankazana, said his son's acquittal did not call for any celebrations.
"As the Mankazana family, we would like to express, once again, our deep regret and remorse for the loss of little Zenani," he said at the end of a seven-month trial while flanked by his son's mother Claire.
"Unfortunately, as a family, and we are all Zenani's family, we have not been able to mourn and heal.
"It takes longer in the face of the accusations of this nature levelled against Sizwe to forgive and to heal."
The Mandela family declined to comment.
Zenani's mother Zoleka Mandela was accompanied by her aunt Zenani Mandela and cousins ZamaSwati Dlamini and Zaziwe Manaway.
The state advocate and spokesman for the Mandela family, Roger Mareume, said: "The verdict was very emotional for the Mandela family, such that it is not possible for them to make any comment at this stage."
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Zenani's great-grandmother, arrived a few minutes after the verdict was handed down.
Zenani was killed when Sizwe's luxury car crashed into a barrier on the M1 freeway on June 11 2010 after the opening concert of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Yesterday, Magistrate Vivian Hawkins took less than 30 minutes to hand down his judgment, saying that he found the state "fell short" in trying to prove a case against Sizwe.
He described the crash as a freak accident and said he found it alarming that the state's accident experts had failed to identify vehicle mechanical problems as the most likely cause of the accident.
"There is no evidence, I repeat no evidence whatsoever, that the accused operated his vehicle recklessly and negligently or while under the influence of alcohol," Hawkins said.
Hawkins said he found it more alarming that the experts had failed to investigate and take photographs of the vehicle's burst tyre, yet they had both conceded that mechanical failure could have contributed to the accident.
Mankazana said his son, a finance graduate from George Washington University, needed to now focus on putting his life back on track.
He said he found events that had transpired after his son's accident questionable.
"We need to study the conduct of those involved in the criminal justice system to see why an incident of this nature could not be addressed in an inquest".
Outside court, an emotional Sizwe said: "Today is not a day for celebration. Twenty-nine months ago, little Zeni was taken from us.
"Her family lost the light of their lives, and I lost someone whom I loved as a niece," he said.
Family's remorse over Zenani
THE father of the driver, charged with the death of former president Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter, says his son's acquittal does not call for any celebration.
Sizwe Mankazana, 25, was found not guilty of causing the crash that claimed the life of Zenani Mandela in 2010.
Speaking to Sowetan in an exclusive interview at the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court, Sizwe's father Zwelakhe Mankazana, said his son's acquittal did not call for any celebrations.
"As the Mankazana family, we would like to express, once again, our deep regret and remorse for the loss of little Zenani," he said at the end of a seven-month trial while flanked by his son's mother Claire.
"Unfortunately, as a family, and we are all Zenani's family, we have not been able to mourn and heal.
"It takes longer in the face of the accusations of this nature levelled against Sizwe to forgive and to heal."
The Mandela family declined to comment.
Zenani's mother Zoleka Mandela was accompanied by her aunt Zenani Mandela and cousins ZamaSwati Dlamini and Zaziwe Manaway.
The state advocate and spokesman for the Mandela family, Roger Mareume, said: "The verdict was very emotional for the Mandela family, such that it is not possible for them to make any comment at this stage."
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Zenani's great-grandmother, arrived a few minutes after the verdict was handed down.
Zenani was killed when Sizwe's luxury car crashed into a barrier on the M1 freeway on June 11 2010 after the opening concert of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Yesterday, Magistrate Vivian Hawkins took less than 30 minutes to hand down his judgment, saying that he found the state "fell short" in trying to prove a case against Sizwe.
He described the crash as a freak accident and said he found it alarming that the state's accident experts had failed to identify vehicle mechanical problems as the most likely cause of the accident.
"There is no evidence, I repeat no evidence whatsoever, that the accused operated his vehicle recklessly and negligently or while under the influence of alcohol," Hawkins said.
Hawkins said he found it more alarming that the experts had failed to investigate and take photographs of the vehicle's burst tyre, yet they had both conceded that mechanical failure could have contributed to the accident.
Mankazana said his son, a finance graduate from George Washington University, needed to now focus on putting his life back on track.
He said he found events that had transpired after his son's accident questionable.
"We need to study the conduct of those involved in the criminal justice system to see why an incident of this nature could not be addressed in an inquest".
Outside court, an emotional Sizwe said: "Today is not a day for celebration. Twenty-nine months ago, little Zeni was taken from us.
"Her family lost the light of their lives, and I lost someone whom I loved as a niece," he said.
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