DHAKA: 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, tells of shabby treatment suffered by Graca Machel, even in the aftermath of her husband’s death.

La Grange’s book ‘Good Morning, Mr Mandela’ will be launched on Thursday, reports The Straits Times.

Excerpts published by Sunday Times newspaper reveal that Machel was once called ‘Ms Frantic’ by Mandela’s eldest daughter Makaziwe, 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.

BDST: 1921 HRS, JUNE 15, 2014