The 2010 World Cup in South Africa is underway with the opening ceremony taking place at Johannesburg's 94,000-capacity Soccer City. Thousands of expectant fans have gathered for the launch and to see the hosts face Mexico at 1500 BST. It is the 19th staging of the showpiece event and the first time it has taken place on the African continent. One man not attending is ex-President Nelson Mandela, who withdrew after his great-granddaughter's death. The Nelson Mandela Foundation said Zenani Mandela, 13, died in a car crash when travelling home from the pre-World Cup concert in Johannesburg. She was one of the 91-year-old anti-apartheid icon's nine great-grandchildren. The Foundation released a statement saying it would be "inappropriate" for Mandela, or 'Madiba' as he is affectionately known in South Africa, to attend the opening ceremony. "We are sure that South Africans and people all over the world will stand in solidarity with Mr Mandela and his family in the aftermath of this tragedy," added the statement. "We continue to believe that the World Cup is a momentous and historic occasion for South Africa and the continent and we are certain it will be a huge success. Madiba will be there with you in spirit today." The 40-minute opening ceremony began with a five-plane military flypass over the stadium, which was only partially full as many fans were stuck in traffic trying to reach the venue. American R'n'B star R Kelly is one of 1,581 performers scheduled to entertain spectators ahead of the first game of the tournament between the hosts and Mexico. The global TV audience for the tournament will be made up of viewers in more than 215 countries and will run into hundreds of millions. South Africa president Jacob Zuma and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, dressed in a yellow and green scarf and beanie to support the Bafana Bafana national side, are in attendance at Soccer City, the newly refurbished stadium designed to look like a calabash, an African storage pot. The festivities began in earnest on Thursday, with Shakira among the artists at a vast pre-tournament concert in Soweto. The Colombian pop star performed the official World Cup song Waka Waka and was joined by a cast of international stars, including the Black Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys, along with African stars Amadou & Mariam and Hugh Masekela.