Even Mandla Mandela's private affairs requires a spokesperson.

Mandla Mandela and his French bride, Anais Grimaud
(source : www.iol.co.za )

Comments such as ''She's French, what do you expect?" and "Family gatherings must get a little tense." were the order of the day on the Daily Mail online newspaper article. What was the whole fuss about? The humiliation of a love triangle scandal involving Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela and his French bride Anais Grimaud.

I was first surprised that the first time I read about this was from an overseas article about the affairs of my own backyard. I quickly remembered the difference in approach and delivery African newspapers have in comparison to the rest of the world. Locally I know such issues are respected and treated as a private family matter which has no place in the public domain. Even if a particular individual is a well-known public figure, culture and tradition of respecting another man’s private affairs takes precedence over the sale of a publicly intriguing story.

As I observe article after article including this latest one I cannot stop asking myself whether the family has a spokesperson at their disposal. Such private issues in the public domain require the skill of a public relations practitioner (PRP). Mandla Mandela shouldn’t be troubled with communicating with the media when a family spokesperson should be made available to deal with all matters and enquiries by the press. Mandla Mandela’s wife is alleged to have had a child not by her husband but by her husband’s brother!

Nelson Mandela and grandson, Mandla Mandela
(source: www.oryxmedia.co.za)

True or not that is beside the point. The issue remains question whether Mandla Mandela public image is treated with fairness by the Media.is his voice being projected the way he wants when challenged by printed stories. Having a PRP in a way levels out the battle field in order for all parties to have a voice. I for one would be shocked beyond words if indeed Mandla Mandela has a spokesperson.if so ,then I urge that particular individual to communicate using all the relevenat resources available to him\her in order for us to hear the voice that with dim out the intensity of this fire of a scandal.