Mandla Mandela faces charge of assault
AFTER dodging a criminal charge for bigamy, Mandla Mandela will soon find himself in the dock accused of assault and pointing a firearm.
The National Prosecuting Authority has confirmed that Nelson Mandela’s grandson, an MP and the chief of Mvezo village, near Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, will face charges relating to the alleged assault of Mthatha teacher Mlamli Ngudle.
He allegedly drew a firearm in the town centre in October after Ngudle had allegedly crashed his vehicle into one driven by Mandela’s guests. Mandela was in another vehicle.
NPA spokesman Luxolo Tyali said: “I can confirm the NPA has taken a decision to charge him with assault and pointing a firearm in connection with that incident. Summons that require him to present himself at the Mthatha Regional Court on December 6 were drafted and sent to him.”
Mandela’s 44-year-old victim, also a traditional leader, had to undergo emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain, which his family believe was a result of the alleged assault.
Mandela’s spokesman, Freddy Pilusa, said he had not yet received an official communication regarding the criminal case.
Two weeks ago, Mandela was granted a reprieve when a charge of bigamy against him was withdrawn.
Thando Mabunu-Mandela, who is suing Mandela for divorce, laid the complaint after Mandela ignored a court interdict and married Mbali Makhathini in December 2011.
He appeared in the High Court in Mthatha this week in a civil case related to the bigamy complaint.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Mandela lost an urgent interdict application in the high court to halt the sale of a herd of 500 cattle that were attached as part of a court order to settle a R500 000 debt to his former attorneys, Randall Titus and Associates.