Former South African President Nelson Mandela’s family announced today that three of his grown grandchildren will star in a new reality TV show to air in early 2012. Dorothy Adjoa Amuah, Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway, and her younger sister Swati Dlamini, all grew up in the United States, but then returned to South Africa for business and family reasons. “This is about three women breaking away from the Mandela legacy to find their own feet,” said director Graeme Swanepoel. ”The show will be about our lives as young, black women… We’re not wearing ‘I’m a Mandela’ T-shirts,” Swati, granddaughter of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, told the news conference. “We’re definitely not the African Kardashians,” another of the soon-to-be-stars said. American producer Rick Leed was in Johannesburg today talking to reporters about the show. He’s the former president of Wind Dancer Production Group (Home Improvement) who created and exec-produced Dr. 90210. “It’s not going to detract from the dignity of Nelson Mandela,” Leed said. The trio of grown grandchildren told the media that the show would not feature their parents and grandparents. According to news reports, Dlamini-Manaway, 34, is the mother figure of the show with a 10-year-old son, a two-year-old daughter, and a third child due in January. She is involved in a family business, Mandela Dlamini Associates, and plans to launch a clothing line. Dlamini, 32, is a single mother getting back into the career world with plans to set up a foundation focused on the housing, education and medical sectors. Amuah, 27, has a law degree and an MBA and is in the luxury brands business.

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