Nelson Mandela will not appear at the opening ceremony of the world cup this afternoon after the death of his great granddaughter in a car accident this morning.

Thirteen-year old Zenani Mandela was one of the former South African president’s nine great grandchildren.

She died in a crash on her way back from a pre-tournament concert in Johannesburg. Just one car was involved and no-one else was injured. South African police say the driver was drunk and has been arrested on suspicion of culpable homicide, or causing death by negligence.

It had been reported that Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife Winnie was also in the car at the time, but it later emerged that she was not. Mandela’s absence at the world cup opening ceremony was confirmed by the Nelson Mandela foundation.