Mandela bigamy case in court this week

MANDLA Mandela, already owing at least R500 000 in legal fees, will face a civil case of bigamy in the High Court in Mthatha this week.

This follows his defiance of a court order obtained by his first wife, Thando Mabuna-Mandela, to prevent a second marriage, to Mbali Makhathini, before a divorce was granted and without her consent.

Mabuna-Mandela originally laid a criminal complaint of bigamy against the grandson of Nelson Mandela. It was accompanied by a civil suit on similar grounds.

The National Prosecuting Authority said last week that the criminal case had been dropped but that the civil case would proceed on Tuesday.

Mandela is also expected to file an application in the same court this week calling for the speedy conclusion of his divorce from Mabuna-Mandela.

Mandela has lost a herd of cattle, which were attached to be sold at an auction on Friday to settle his legal debt.

He owes the legal firm Randall Titus & Associates almost R500 000.

It emerged this week that this was not the only legal firm owed money by Mandela.

A source said he still owed the legal teams that took him to court on behalf of the rest of the Mandela clan in June and July.

Mandela was taken to court by his siblings and aunt Makaziwe Mandela in a dispute over the remains of three of the former president’s deceased children. He lost with cost — possibly running as high as R2-million.

David Smith, the advocate who acted against Mandela in the dispute, now faces a disciplinary hearing by the Eastern Cape Society of Advocates.

Smith submitted a court paper during the hearing that claimed Madiba was in a “vegetative state”, a claim later disputed by the government and friends of the former president.

The “vegetative” claim was part of the argument of the family’s application to have Mandela return the remains, which had been reburied at his palace in Mvezo.

Marius Swanepoel, chairman of the advocates’ society, said it decided on disciplinary processes after a preliminary investigation. It was Mandela who filed the complaint against Smith.

A formal charge sheet would be prepared soon so that Smith could be called before a formal hearing, he said.