Former Transkei homeland leader Bantu Holomisa has written a sworn statement saying AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo could not have allocated a site to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela as he was not yet king in 1989.
Holomisa wrote in an affidavit to the Mthatha High Court that the site, located along the N2 in Qunu which is being claimed by Madikizela-Mandela, was allocated to Nelson Mandela “shortly after his release from prison”.
Madikizela-Mandela claims the property belongs to her as it had been given to her by the Abathembu king and the community of Qunu.
Several people have come out in support of Madikizela-Mandela, saying they were present when the plot was given to her.
In his affidavit, Holomisa wrote that the allocation was done in two phases: first the small plot and then the rest of the farm after 1994.
Holomisa wrote that when he visited Mandela in Soweto a few days after the iconic statesman was released from prison, he asked if Mandela would consider building a home in Qunu.
“He said he would give that a thought. few months thereafter he called me and informed that he intended to build his home Qunu, his birthplace.
“He requested me to obtain architectural drawings of the house he lived in when he was imprisoned at the Victor Vester prison. He wanted to build a replica thereof.”
Holomisa said he got in touch with the late chief, Zwelebango Balizulu, the husband of chief Nokwanele Balizulu.
“He took me to an open space at Qunu and said that it was the site that had been allocated to Mr Mandela. He never indicated that the site had already been allocated to in this matter,” wrote Holomisa.
“The construction started and got finalised without any involvement of .”
The king’s spokesman, Chief Bhovulengwe Mtirara, said: “The plot was given to Mam Winnie. Madiba was in jail at the time, he is lying.”
Madikizela-Mandela’s lawyer, Mvuzo Notyesi, was not available for comment.
A date for the court hearing has yet to be set. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
Holomisa denies Winnie’s claim to Qunu land
Holomisa wrote in an affidavit to the Mthatha High Court that the site, located along the N2 in Qunu which is being claimed by Madikizela-Mandela, was allocated to Nelson Mandela “shortly after his release from prison”.
Madikizela-Mandela claims the property belongs to her as it had been given to her by the Abathembu king and the community of Qunu.
Several people have come out in support of Madikizela-Mandela, saying they were present when the plot was given to her.
In his affidavit, Holomisa wrote that the allocation was done in two phases: first the small plot and then the rest of the farm after 1994.
Holomisa wrote that when he visited Mandela in Soweto a few days after the iconic statesman was released from prison, he asked if Mandela would consider building a home in Qunu.
“He said he would give that a thought. few months thereafter he called me and informed that he intended to build his home Qunu, his birthplace.
“He requested me to obtain architectural drawings of the house he lived in when he was imprisoned at the Victor Vester prison. He wanted to build a replica thereof.”
Holomisa said he got in touch with the late chief, Zwelebango Balizulu, the husband of chief Nokwanele Balizulu.
“He took me to an open space at Qunu and said that it was the site that had been allocated to Mr Mandela. He never indicated that the site had already been allocated to in this matter,” wrote Holomisa.
“The construction started and got finalised without any involvement of .”
The king’s spokesman, Chief Bhovulengwe Mtirara, said: “The plot was given to Mam Winnie. Madiba was in jail at the time, he is lying.”
Madikizela-Mandela’s lawyer, Mvuzo Notyesi, was not available for comment.
A date for the court hearing has yet to be set. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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