Nelson Mandela’s grandson exhorts Meghan Markle to ‘pull up sleeves’ and actually DO something for ordinary folk
Nelson Mandela's grandson has urged Meghan Markle to "pull up her sleeves" and serve ordinary people in a fresh attack after she drew a comparison between her royal wedding and the freedom fighter's walk of freedom after 27 years in jail.
The Duchess of Sussex, 41, suggested during an interview with a US magazine that her wedding to Prince Harry was celebrated by South Africans in the same way they rejoiced in the release of the anti-apartheid leader. Zwelivelile 'Mandla' Mandela previously said he was surprised at her remarks in The Cut magazine when she claimed that a South African actor said, "We rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison." Mandela's grandson declared that "every day there are people who want to be Nelson Mandela, either comparing themselves with him or wanting to emulate him."
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In a fresh attack on Meghan, he told The Times he had a piece of advice for the former actress. "Get out there, pull up your sleeves, and better the lives of ordinary people in England and in the United Kingdom," he told the newspaper, adding, "For the personality she is, she can do a lot of good in the global community by adopting the causes that Madiba championed."
The Duchess sparked controversy with her comments on a 6,400-word article titled 'Meghan of Montecito', recalling an alleged encounter she had at the 2019 London premiere of a live version of the Disney Classic 'Lion King'. She said a cast member who hailed from South Africa pulled her aside and told her, "I just need you to know: When you married into this family, we rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison."
Zwelivelile noted how his legendary grandfather served 27 years behind bars before being released and later re-united his opponents to ultimately lead his country. He said the nationwide celebrations in South Africa at his grandfather's release were for a far more serious occasion than Meghan tying the knot with "a white prince."
He told the Daily Mail, "It can never be compared to the celebration of someone's wedding. Madiba's celebration was based on overcoming 350 years of colonialism with 60 years of a brutal apartheid regime in South Africa. So It cannot be equated to as the same." The African National Congress MP added, "We are still bearing scars of the past. But they were (Mandela's celebrations) a product of the majority of our people being brought out onto the streets to exercise the right of voting for the first time."
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Meghan's claim sparked considerable rage among critics, with many telling her to "get lost" over her display of "utmost disrespect" toward the country. The 41-year-old former actress reiterated the anecdote in another recent interview with a US magazine, but it has been refuted by many who said it was not their experience of what happened. Her unfounded story caused the hashtag #VoetsekMeghan to trend in South Africa. Voetsek is an Afrikaans word meaning "go away" or "get lost" and is a common slur in the country.
Meghan drew the ire of South Africans shortly after her first 'Archetypes' Spotify podcast in which she described the mansion she was staying in during the royal tour of South Africa with Harry and Archie as a "housing unit." She had already caused a stir after telling the story of an apparent fire that broke out in her son Archie's room when she was out on a royal engagement in the country. The Duchess said that she was obliged to carry on with official engagements despite the incident and accused those managing the tour of focusing on "how it looks, instead of how it feels."