A GLOBAL campaign to fight road fatalities - named after the late great-granddaughter of former president Nelson Mandela, Zenani Mandela - was launched in New York.

The Zenani Campaign, to which Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele was invited, was launched by the Commission for Global Road Safety (CGRS). It will contribute to the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Zenani was killed in a road accident in 2010, two days after she turned 13.

CGRS said the Zenani Campaign would focus mainly on saving the lives of children.

The campaign would be led by her mother Zoleka Mandela and grandmother Zindzi Mandela.

CGRS spokesman Avi Silverman said the campaign was launched in New York because the Road Safety Fund, which is its key partner, is currently holding its 2012 Decade of Action Forum there.

"The forum is aimed at policy-makers and global road safety donors. The fund wanted to include the Zenani Campaign in this event as a powerful way to advance the agenda for the Decade of Action and to highlight the importance of protecting children on the roads," Silverman said.

He said the Mandelas wanted to help raise awareness in memory of Zenani.

Zindzi Mandela said at the event: "In common with many people, I used to think that road casualties were just a tragic fact of life, about which nothing could be done.

"I did not ask how can we prevent this, what action can we take? But so much can be done to save young lives. We can, and we must do much more to protect our children."