News / Africa
Mandela's grandson off the hook on 2 charges
19 Nov 2013 at 02:52hrs | Views
Johannesburg - Two charges against former president Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla Mandela will not be pursued, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Tuesday.
NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said these related to alleged bigamy and grave tampering.
"Both cases were submitted to us a long time ago. We looked at the dockets and referred them back to the police for further investigation."
When the dockets were returned, the NPA considered them and found there was insufficient evidence that would be admissible in court, Tyali said.
In July, 16 members of the Mandela family laid charges against Mandla after he admitted to exhuming the graves two years ago.
The remains were those of Mandela's eldest son Madiba Thembekile, who died in a car accident in 1969; Mandla's father Makgatho Mandela, who died in 2005; and Mandela's first daughter Makaziwe Mandela, who died as an infant in 1948.
On 3 July, the three sets of remains were exhumed from Mandla's home village of Mvezo, in accordance with a court order, and reburied at Madiba's home in Qunu the following day.
The second matter arose in December 2011 when the Mvezo chief's first wife Thando Mabuna-Mandela laid a charge of bigamy against Mandla.
This was after he defied a court order not to marry a Pietermaritzburg woman Mbali Makhathini. The pair began divorce proceedings in 2008, after marrying in community of property in 2004.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Mandla's lawyers began legal proceedings against him to recover unpaid fees of almost R500 000.
Randall Titus and Associates Attorneys would no longer represent Mandla and court documents revealed that the firm was demanding R467 400 and interest of 15.5%.
The fees were reportedly for the period between May last year and May 2013.
NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said these related to alleged bigamy and grave tampering.
"Both cases were submitted to us a long time ago. We looked at the dockets and referred them back to the police for further investigation."
When the dockets were returned, the NPA considered them and found there was insufficient evidence that would be admissible in court, Tyali said.
In July, 16 members of the Mandela family laid charges against Mandla after he admitted to exhuming the graves two years ago.
The remains were those of Mandela's eldest son Madiba Thembekile, who died in a car accident in 1969; Mandla's father Makgatho Mandela, who died in 2005; and Mandela's first daughter Makaziwe Mandela, who died as an infant in 1948.
On 3 July, the three sets of remains were exhumed from Mandla's home village of Mvezo, in accordance with a court order, and reburied at Madiba's home in Qunu the following day.
The second matter arose in December 2011 when the Mvezo chief's first wife Thando Mabuna-Mandela laid a charge of bigamy against Mandla.
This was after he defied a court order not to marry a Pietermaritzburg woman Mbali Makhathini. The pair began divorce proceedings in 2008, after marrying in community of property in 2004.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Mandla's lawyers began legal proceedings against him to recover unpaid fees of almost R500 000.
Randall Titus and Associates Attorneys would no longer represent Mandla and court documents revealed that the firm was demanding R467 400 and interest of 15.5%.
The fees were reportedly for the period between May last year and May 2013.
Source - Sapa
