The grandson of Nelson Mandela, who was due in Bristol this week, will no longer visit after his visa was not being granted in time. Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela was set to tour Britain and Ireland giving a talk on ‘dismantling the apartheid from South Africa to Palestine.’
The Bristol meeting at the Malcolm X Centre in St Pauls will still go ahead tomorrow evening (Oct 17), but Mr Mandela will now join virtually. The 50-year-old, who was up until recently a member of the South African parliament, will still speak in Ireland where he was granted a visa.
Mr Mandela was due to fly to Britain to speak at events during Black History Month in eight cities, including London, Edinburgh and Brighton.
Speaking about his virtual presence in Britain ahead of the tour, he said on Instagram: “Though I may not be with you physically, my spirit is here among you, fuelled by the same hope, resilience, and unwavering belief in justice that brought us together decades ago in the fight against Apartheid South Africa.
“Today, we gather under the dark shadow of another tyranny – facing the genocide, ethnic cleansing, and the most vicious form of apartheid in Occupied Palestine.”
A statement shared on Instagram from organisers the Dismantling Apartheid UK Tour coalition said: “There is no more important issue in the world today and we deserve to hear an important voice in support of international law and the cruelly violated Palestinian people.”