Mandla won’t bow to Winnie

Mandla Mandela will not bow down to Madiba’s ex-wife and her efforts to stop the family meeting which is planned for Friday.

Nelson Mandela’s oldest grandson said yesterday his lawyers were busy drafting opposing papers to be submitted in the Mthatha High Court before the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela interdict is heard tomorrow.

She said Mandla was a Mvezo resident “where he owns a huge compound” and Mtirara was not even a Mandela but an “intruder” and “trouble maker” in the Mandela family.

She said she attempted to stop the meeting but failed because the two were hell-bent on going ahead with it.

Madikizela-Mandela said newspapers had painted a picture of likely violence and anarchy if the meeting were allowed.

“There is a likelihood of bloodshed and chaos occurring in the Mandela family which is my property. Thousands of people have been invited and no measures have been put in place for the protection of the property and human life.

“Should the meeting go ahead with violence erupting, the Mandela family will be embarrassed and shamed.”

She said she found it strange Mandla was showing an interest in the Qunu home “after he stole and removed graves from Qunu to Mvezo”. The remains were later returned following a court process.

She is seeking to interdict Mandla and Mtirara from:

• Illegally entering the Mandela Qunu homestead. Mandla was to be allowed to enter the property only for lawful visits and lawful purposes;
• Publicly discussing Mandela family internal matters, the Qunu property ownership dispute and the election of a Mandela family head; and
• Assuming the mantle of Mandela family spokesmen.

But some insiders said they had not planned on discussing Madikizela-Mandela’s claim over the Qunu property at the planned meeting.

AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s spokesman Nkosi Mfundo Mtirara said the king supported Madikizela-Mandela in her bid to own the Qunu property. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za