Rhodes Law Clinic to represent Madiba’s daughters

JOHANNESBURG: The Rhodes Law Clinic has given lawyer Wesley Hayes – who is on its payroll – permission to represent Nelson Mandela’s daughters in their drawn-out bid to gain control of their father’s monies, including artworks.

Mandela’s eldest daughter, Makaziwe, and Zenani made an application at the Johannesburg High Court to have advocate George Bizos, businessman Tokyo Sexwale and lawyer Bally Chuene removed as directors of Harmonieux Investment Holdings and Magnifique Investment Holdings.

However, last month, just before the trial started, the lawyer who was representing the Mandelas, Ismail Ayob, withdrew his services. They have subsequently secured Hayes’s services.

The lawyer successfully represented the Mandelas in their legal battle against Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla, to have the remains of their three relatives returned to a gravesite in Qunu.

Hayes is the director of the Queenstown Rural Legal Centre – an office of the Rhodes University Law Clinic.

In addition, he is the deputy director of the Rhodes University Law Clinic.

There was outrage recently after it emerged that the Rhodes Law Clinic had funded the case for the 15 Mandela family members after some of them had pleaded indigence.

Rhodes University director of special projects Susan Smailes was quick to point out yesterday that Hayes was representing the Mandelas in the fight for their father’s assets in his private capacity.

In her affidavit Makaziwe said Bizos, Chuene and Sexwale were not formally appointed by the shareholder (Mandela) of the com- panies by way of any resolution. Bizos denied this. The companies, according to court documents and a source, were established by the ailing statesman’s former lawyer, Ayob.

Their main purpose was to channel the “proceeds of Madiba’s handprints” into the accounts of the companies for Mandela and his children’s benefit.

The proceeds are estimated at more than R15 million.

The handprints have been the subject of controversy involving businessman Ross Calder, Ayob and many others over who holds the rights to sell them.