Nelson Mandela’s daughters sue their father for his millions

11 years ago | Posted in: Laws | 731 Views

Johannesburg – Mandela’s daughters Zenani and Makaziwe, fighting for rights of access to their father’s assets valued in millions, have filed an interdict in the High Court to remove George Bizos, Bally Chuene and Tokyo Sexwale as trustees and directors of his trust.

IOL reports that in an affidavit filed Wednesday, Bally Chuene, one of the administrators Mandela appointed to manage his funds worth more $1.7 million, said: “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 authorized representatives of Harmonieux, Magnifique and Tinancier Investments and Holdings (Pty) Ltd (also wholly owned by the Mandela Trust).”

Mandela’s daughters are fighting for right of full access to their father’s trust which they say the lawyers are denying them. According to The Global Post, the two sisters said their father never properly appointed the three men as shareholders and directors of the companies established to manage his trust fund.

The daughters are challenging an April 2004 Johannesburg High Court order which granted their father the right to manage his trust as he wishes, remove Ismail Ayob as his lawyer and appoint Bally Chuene, George Bizos and Tokyo Sexwale as trustees and directors of his trust.

Bloomberg reports that according to court papers provided by Ismail Ayob representing Zenani and Makaziwe, the daughters said that Bizos, Chuene and Sexwale “no longer enjoy the support of almost all the beneficiaries” of their father’s trust.

Mandela removed Ayob for failing to account for the proceeds of sales of his artwork, Bloomberg reports. But Ayob has denied charges that he benefited from sales of the artwork, saying that Mandela was forgetful of facts and acted irrationally in the affair.

In the affidavit, Chuene said that the sisters’ action was prompted by the refusal of he, Bizos and Sexwale to release the trust’s money to the daughters without a court order.

Chuene alleged that the sisters were trying to have them removed “to facilitate the distribution of monies in those two companies bank accounts to them and other family members. The application carries with it an ulterior motive.”

He said that although Mandela, 94, has been ill in hospital during the year, he made it clear that he does not want his daughters involved in his affairs.

Global Post reports Chuene said: “Mr Mandela made it clear to Makaziwe and Zenani that he did not want them involved in his affairs. The only persons he wanted involved were myself, advocate Bizos… and his other various nominees.”

He accused the sisters of filing the lawsuit out of greed. Mail and Guardian reports he also accused Mandela’s former lawyer Ayob of instigating the sisters.

According to IOL, 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.”

Mandela is recovering in his Johannesburg home after recent health issues that sparked speculations about his death.

He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and became South Africa’s first president in the post-apartheid era from 1994 to 1999.

According to Bloomberg, Bizos is a longstanding friend of Mandela who defended him in his 1964 treason trial. The apartheid government charged Mandela of “plotting to overthrow the government by violence.”

He spent 27 years in prison before he was released.

source: http://digitaljournal.com

Tags: , , ,

Share it.

Leave a Reply

Related Posts