The former South African president, who has largely retired from public life, arrived early for the ceremony, which was held in the chapel of the girl's private school in an upmarket Johannesburg suburb.
Mr Mandela, 91, wore black clothes with a
flash of pink in the form of a corsage of roses. Despite looking frail,
he managed to smile and wave at well wishers as he was helped to a seat
in the front row together with his third wife Graca.
During the three-hour service, he and other guests
laughed and wept as tributes were read to the 13-year-old "natural born
star".
Her death last week led to Mr Mandela cancelling his appearance at the World Cup opening ceremony.
Zenani was the granddaughter of Zindzi Mandela, his daughter with second wife, Winnie Midikizela-Mandela, 73, who also attended the funeral.
The teenager had just celebrated her birthday and had ambitions of becoming a surgeon. She was said to be asleep when the car she was travelling overturned on the motorway near the concert venue in Soweto.
The driver of the car, Sizwe Mankazane, 23, is the son of Zindzi's partner and a close family friend. He was arrested following the crash and now faces charges of drink-driving and culpable homicide when he next appears in court on July 26.
Hundreds of mourners from South Africa's political elite attended the chapel of the elite Methodist St Stithian's College north of Johannesburg where she had been a member of the choir and drumming band.
Among those who paid tribute was supermodel Naomi Campbell, who said in a televised message that she had been "truly blessed" to have spent time with Zenani, whom she considered to be her god-daughter.
Zenani's mother, Zoleka Mandela-Seakamela, wrote a letter to her daughter which was read by a friend. In it, she said she wished she had indulged her more, allowing her to sleep in late and wear make-up.
"I should have given you more hugs, more kisses," she wrote. "If I did all this, would you come back to me, if only for a few seconds?"
Her death last week led to Mr Mandela cancelling his appearance at the World Cup opening ceremony.
Zenani was the granddaughter of Zindzi Mandela, his daughter with second wife, Winnie Midikizela-Mandela, 73, who also attended the funeral.
The teenager had just celebrated her birthday and had ambitions of becoming a surgeon. She was said to be asleep when the car she was travelling overturned on the motorway near the concert venue in Soweto.
The driver of the car, Sizwe Mankazane, 23, is the son of Zindzi's partner and a close family friend. He was arrested following the crash and now faces charges of drink-driving and culpable homicide when he next appears in court on July 26.
Hundreds of mourners from South Africa's political elite attended the chapel of the elite Methodist St Stithian's College north of Johannesburg where she had been a member of the choir and drumming band.
Among those who paid tribute was supermodel Naomi Campbell, who said in a televised message that she had been "truly blessed" to have spent time with Zenani, whom she considered to be her god-daughter.
Zenani's mother, Zoleka Mandela-Seakamela, wrote a letter to her daughter which was read by a friend. In it, she said she wished she had indulged her more, allowing her to sleep in late and wear make-up.
"I should have given you more hugs, more kisses," she wrote. "If I did all this, would you come back to me, if only for a few seconds?"