THE fighting by Mandela family members over the icon’s money would cause the 94-year-old great pain and make his “heart bleed”, according to his grand son, Mandla Mandela.
“It is uncalled for that my grand father has at his old age to endure such a pain. I did not expect it would be Dalibhunga’s own children who did not pro tect his dignity,” Mandla Mandela told the Daily Dispatch.
He was speaking in the wake of a court bid by his aunts – Zenani and Makaziwe – to eject George Bizos, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and lawyer Bally Chuene as directors from two Mandela trusts.
Some R20-million is at stake in the trusts and another objective is reportedly to gain access to the machine that replicates Mandela’s handprint artworks.
Mandla Mandela has publicly distanced himself from the court bid and yesterday also distanced himself from reported attempts by members of the Mandela family to tout “Nel son Mandela birthday celebrations” in various cities, including London, Monaco and Pretoria.
Madiba – who was released from hospital just nine days ago after suffering a repeat bout of a life- threatening lung ailment – turns 95 in June.
According to the Sunday Times, relatives are peddling the Mandela name for events which include a gala dinner at the Union Buildings with “African leaders, friends of Madiba, pan-African multinationals and insti tutions” and other features like the “Monaco Million Dollar Super Four” boxing tournament and soccer matches with Manchester United.
Mandla Mandela yesterday said he was not aware of the plans for birth day celebrations but distanced him self from those and other projects.
“I am not part of it. I know nothing about it. You can only ask me about the annual birthday celebrations we always have at Mvezo. People are apparently cashing in, and I am not part of that and will never be,” said Mandla Mandela.
Golden Gloves owner Rodney Berman, who was meant to organise the birthday boxing event, has also distanced himself from the tourna ment.
“In light of the fight for the Madiba millions and given his health, Golden Gloves took a decision not to get involved in this. We don’t want to get caught in any crossfire,” Berman told the Sunday Times.
Referring to the court case Mandla expressed shock that his aunts were turning their backs on Bizos who he said, had been like a father figure to them while Mandela washad been in prison.
The relationship between Bizos and “Dalibhunga” (Mandela’s praise name) went as far back as Mandela’s days at Wits Univer sity.
Mandla Mandela said children and grandchildren were expected to get blessings from Mandela and to be united as a family yet “we appear to fight each other unnecessarily”.
“It is immoral to fight over inher itance while the individual is still alive. This is a dent to the Mandela name, a name we are supposed to be protecting at all cost as his family. It is quite shocking that while someone is still alive, people are fighting over his inheritance.
“It is like he is being stripped of his clothes and they are being sold off,” he told the Dispatch.
The birthday events are the latest in a string of money-making enter prises by members of the Mandela family that include:
l The House of Mandela Wines by Makaziwe, Mandela’s daughter from his first marriage; and
l A USA reality TV show and Mandela clothing range by the daughters of Mandela’s daughter, Zenani, Zamaswazi Dlamini and Zaziwe Manaway star in their own reality show, Being Mandela. —
Madiba money row ‘is painful’
“It is uncalled for that my grand father has at his old age to endure such a pain. I did not expect it would be Dalibhunga’s own children who did not pro tect his dignity,” Mandla Mandela told the Daily Dispatch.
He was speaking in the wake of a court bid by his aunts – Zenani and Makaziwe – to eject George Bizos, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and lawyer Bally Chuene as directors from two Mandela trusts.
Some R20-million is at stake in the trusts and another objective is reportedly to gain access to the machine that replicates Mandela’s handprint artworks.
Mandla Mandela has publicly distanced himself from the court bid and yesterday also distanced himself from reported attempts by members of the Mandela family to tout “Nel son Mandela birthday celebrations” in various cities, including London, Monaco and Pretoria.
Madiba – who was released from hospital just nine days ago after suffering a repeat bout of a life- threatening lung ailment – turns 95 in June.
According to the Sunday Times, relatives are peddling the Mandela name for events which include a gala dinner at the Union Buildings with “African leaders, friends of Madiba, pan-African multinationals and insti tutions” and other features like the “Monaco Million Dollar Super Four” boxing tournament and soccer matches with Manchester United.
Mandla Mandela yesterday said he was not aware of the plans for birth day celebrations but distanced him self from those and other projects.
“I am not part of it. I know nothing about it. You can only ask me about the annual birthday celebrations we always have at Mvezo. People are apparently cashing in, and I am not part of that and will never be,” said Mandla Mandela.
Golden Gloves owner Rodney Berman, who was meant to organise the birthday boxing event, has also distanced himself from the tourna ment.
“In light of the fight for the Madiba millions and given his health, Golden Gloves took a decision not to get involved in this. We don’t want to get caught in any crossfire,” Berman told the Sunday Times.
Referring to the court case Mandla expressed shock that his aunts were turning their backs on Bizos who he said, had been like a father figure to them while Mandela washad been in prison.
The relationship between Bizos and “Dalibhunga” (Mandela’s praise name) went as far back as Mandela’s days at Wits Univer sity.
Mandla Mandela said children and grandchildren were expected to get blessings from Mandela and to be united as a family yet “we appear to fight each other unnecessarily”.
“It is immoral to fight over inher itance while the individual is still alive. This is a dent to the Mandela name, a name we are supposed to be protecting at all cost as his family. It is quite shocking that while someone is still alive, people are fighting over his inheritance.
“It is like he is being stripped of his clothes and they are being sold off,” he told the Dispatch.
The birthday events are the latest in a string of money-making enter prises by members of the Mandela family that include:
l The House of Mandela Wines by Makaziwe, Mandela’s daughter from his first marriage; and
l A USA reality TV show and Mandela clothing range by the daughters of Mandela’s daughter, Zenani, Zamaswazi Dlamini and Zaziwe Manaway star in their own reality show, Being Mandela. —
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