The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund announced on Wednesday it would not participate in this year’s Nelson Mandela Invitational Golf Tournament.
”As a result of our withdrawal the tournament can no longer be called the Nelson Mandela Invitational and should not be marketed as such in any form whatsoever,” the fund said in a statement.
”Of prime concern to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund is the protection of our founder’s name, Nelson Mandela, and our associate organisations from the current controversy.
”Consequently, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund would regrettably not be able to receive the benefits of the event nor any income derived from the event.”
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu earlier appealed to Mandela to distance himself from golfer Gary Player, historically linked to the tournament, because Player’s company had been involved in the design of a golf course in Burma.
The South African government maintains diplomatic relations with Burma, which has an embassy in Pretoria.
Player has maintained that his company was only involved in the design of the course in Burma and had no links with the junta.
Player was recently removed from the guest list for the tournament, which was scheduled to take place in the Western Cape in November. – Sapa