Chaos at Mandela Christmas party

Mandela was not at the party this year

A children's Christmas party given by former South African President Nelson Mandela was thrown into chaos after thousands turned up for free gifts.

Police fought to hold back up to 75,000 children and adults attempting to get into the venue in Mr Mandela's home village of Qunu, Eastern Cape.

Police said they were unprepared for the massive surge. No-one was injured.

Mr Mandela was not at the party this year. He was staying with his son who is critically ill in hospital.

'Queue-jumping'

Television footage showed children and their parents climbing a barbed-wire fence as police attempted to hold them back with batons.

"We were told about 20,000 people were expected to turn up but about ... 50,000 came and formed huge queues," said police superintendent Nondumiso Jafta.

The police deployed there could not do anything Nondumiso Jafta Police superintendent

"People were jumping the queue for presents and food, and they pushed others in front of them, who fell down and this led to chaos," she said.

"The police deployed there could not do anything," she added.

One of the organisers put the number at 75,000 and said the party had to be postponed because "the children would have been at risk from a stampede".

Police said several people collapsed from hunger and heat and some small children - including a four-month-old baby - were abandoned.

Three children were taken to hospital with bruises and cuts in a stampede at Mr Mandela's party in 2002.

Mr Mandela first held the party in 1990, the year he was released after 27 years in prison.

Every year he and his wife Graca Machel hand out thousands of gifts to needy children.

Mr Mandela and his wife have been actively involved in promoting the welfare of children for many years.