Former South African president Nelson Mandela wanted singer Melanie Brown to be part of his family - the leader once tried to set her up with his cousin.

The former Spice Girl met Mandela in Pretoria, South Africa in 1997 at the height of her fame with the Wannabe hitmakers.

But the activist spent most of the time playing cupid by trying to convince Brown to go on a date with his relative.

She says, "Nelson Mandela was trying to pawn me off to date one of his cousins. I was trying to say to him I'm not really interested and he said, 'No, no, no. Come and meet him right now'."