Winnie sues over Mandela will
What you need to know:
- The 78-year-old states that the house, built on an expansive estate where the revered South African leader is buried, was acquired by her in 1989, when he was still in prison.
- In the papers filed in Mthatha High Court, southeast of Johannesburg, Ms Madikizela-Mandela claims the registration of the house under Mr Mandela’s name was unlawful and should be set aside.
JOHANNESBURG, Wednesday
Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela Mandela Wednesday filed court papers challenging the late statesman’s will, media reported.
Ms Madikizela-Mandela wants ownership of Mr Mandela’s house in rural Qunu, which was left to the family trust and his widow Graca Machel, according to papers seen by Daily Dispatch newspaper.
The 78-year-old states that the house, built on an expansive estate where the revered South African leader is buried, was acquired by her in 1989, when he was still in prison.
In the papers filed in Mthatha High Court, southeast of Johannesburg, Ms Madikizela-Mandela claims the registration of the house under Mr Mandela’s name was unlawful and should be set aside.
“The Qunu property remains my house and therefore the testament in so far as it seeks to dispose off that property is invalid and liable to be set aside from the will.”
She lists seven respondents, including President Jacob Zuma and Ms Machel.
The couple divorced in 1996 and she was not named in his $4.4 million (Sh391m) estate in the will which was released in February. Mandela gave money to various family members, staff, schools and his party, the African National Congress.
HER OWN ASSETS
His third wife, Machel, received four properties in her native Mozambique as well as cars, art work, and jewellery — many of which were her own assets that she brought to their marriage.
In his autobiography, Mandela said that after his 1990 release from prison, “I set about plans to build a country house for myself in Qunu”-- referring to the house in dispute.
Madikizela-Mandela, who is a member of parliament spends most of her time in her house in Soweto, south of Johannesburg. Mr Mandela died at the age of 95 on December 5 last year after a lengthy illness and Madikizela-Mandela often visited him in hospital and wore black morning attire after his death.
Earlier this week, it was announced Ms Madikizela-Mandela is to undergo surgery.
Her daughter Zindzi Mandela wrote on social networking site Twitter on Monday: “Wishing my mother a speedy recovery and good luck with the surgery. Love always,” Zindzi Mandela tweeted. It was not clear what surgery Madikizela-Mandela was undergoing but sources said it was to fix a vein in her leg.
In November 2011, Madikizela-Mandela was admitted to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg and treated for an existing diabetes condition. (AFP, Agencies)
