Mandela’s Holiday Party Is Mobbed

QUNU, South Africa — Nelson Mandela played Father Christmas with U.S. talk show queen Oprah Winfrey by his side at a special Yuletide bash that turned chaotic as thousands of children flocked to his home in the Eastern Cape.

About 20,000 children and parents, many of whom had walked for miles, lined up outside Mandela’s rural home for the annual party -- three times as many as last year.

At one point, the crush became so great that security guards had to cut through a fence to relieve the pressure. Two children were slightly hurt.

“We didn’t anticipate 20,000 people showing up. We had to call for support from the defense force and the police force,” Mandela spokeswoman Zelda la Grange told reporters.

For many it was the first chance to meet the beloved 84-year-old ex-president, whom they fondly call by his clan name “Madiba,” and the African American television star.

“I’m a South African and have never been up close with Madiba. This is exciting. We only see her [Winfrey] on TV, now we get to see her live,” said Daniel Njapha, who drove for several hours with his two toddlers.

Mandela has hosted the Christmas party at his home village since 1990 when he was released after 27 years in apartheid jails. That first occasion attracted 500 people, and the party has been growing ever since.

Winfrey later told reporters that the situation could have easily spiraled out of control.