Early last month, Nelson Madela’s daughters, Makaziwe Mandela and Zenani Mandela-Dlamini filed papers to have prominent board members removed as directors and trustees of the Mandela Trust and as directors of two companies. Mandela’s daughters are now suing their father to have control of his riches and his artworks.

A 2004 Johannesburg High Court order is what the siblings are fighting. In the court order Mandela’s then lawyer, Ismail Ayob was instructed by the statesman to stop managing his financial, personal and legal affairs. Ayob was also ordered to hand over any financial statements and documents to Chuene. Let it be known that Ayob is now representing the siblings.

Mandela’s current lawyer, Bally Chuene’s affidavit revealed this in the Johannesburg high Court last week:

Makaziwe and Zenani have sought leave to file answering affidavits in the interdict application (Mandela’s 2004 application) on the basis that they are the sole authorised representatives of Harmonieux, Magnifique and Tinancier Investments and Holdings (Pty) Ltd (also wholly owned by the Mandela Trust).

According to Chuene, the battle began when he refused to release the trusts money to the sisters without legal justification. Makaziwe and Zenani then filed papers claiming that Chuene, Tokyo Sexwale and George Bizos Sc had not been appointed by Mandela himself, but claimed they had forced their way onto the boards of two companies – Harmonieux and Magnifique Investment Holdings. According to court papers, Chuene said:

I have referred to these inter-related demands for the resignation of the trustees of the general trusts as it is plain that Makaziwe and Zenani and Mr Ayob had set about a general plan to have all of Mr Mandela’s independent trustees removed from their office in these trusts in order to gain control thereof. The current application is a further step in such plan.

It is clear from the background that Mr Ayob has always resisted the immediate and complete implementation of the wishes of Mr Mandela.

He actively took steps to subvert those wishes and behaved in a manner which was improper.

He is a guiding hand behind this application.

Given his role in this application, the opposing respondents (Chuene, Bizos and Sexwale) will pursue a special costs order against him, in the event the application is dismissed.

Chuene maintains that Ayob is the driving force behind the court application.

Makaziwe and Zenani’s belated attempt to support Mr Ayob’s opposition to the interdict application forms part of the ulterior purpose of unlawfully securing control of the Mandela Trust and its subsidiary companies in order to circumvent the refusal by the independent trustees to effect a general distribution of the assets of the trust.

An answering affidavit would be filed in court according to Ayob.

[Source: IOL News]