Nelson Mandela's widow treated badly by his family, book says
Former aide's book alleges Graca Machel needed accreditation to attend his funeral
Nelson Mandela's widow was treated badly by members of his family as the peace icon was fighting for his life in hospital, excerpts from a memoir by his long-time aide have revealed.
In a book likely to ruffle some feathers within the large Mandela family, Zelda la Grange, Mandela's personal assistant for 19 years, describes shabby treatment of Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, even in the aftermath of her husband's death.
She wrote that Machel had to get accreditation to attend her own husband's funeral on December 15. The Machel family was allocated only five spots at the service.
La Grange's book, Good Morning, Mr Mandela, comes out Thursday.
Excerpts published by The Sunday Times newspaper reveal that Mandela's eldest daughter Makaziwe once called Machel "Ms Frantic" after media reports that she had been in a frenzy when an ambulance driving Mandela to hospital broke down on a motorway on a cold evening in June 2013.
La Grange also recalled family squabbles over control of the revered statesman during his final days, sidelining Machel.
She says debates within the Mandela family about his funeral took place for years before he died in December at the age of 95. Machel had refused to be party to such arrangements.