Cape Town - Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has warned of bloodshed at Qunu should a planned family meeting organised by Mandla Mandela go ahead.
According to the Sunday Times, Madikizela-Mandela said that should the meeting be allowed to proceed, “violence is likely to erupt and thereby tarnish the good name of both myself and the late Mr Nelson Mandela”.
She told the newspaper thousands of people have been invited to attend the meeting – a meeting called to discuss Madikizela-Mandela’s claim to the property and the issue of the rightful head of the Mandela family.
Madikizela-Mandela is challenging Mandela’s will, which left the property to his family trust, which would administer it for the “benefit of the Mandela family and my third wife [Graca Machel] and her two children”.
As reported by News24, the meeting, which is set to host all the royal families of the AbaThembu nation, the AmaDlomo, is designed to discuss Madikizela-Mandela’s claim on the property and Mandla’s role as head of the Mandelas.
Madikizela-Mandela’s lawyer Mvuzo Notyesi told City Press: “Yes, we are interdicting the meeting. Where are they going to have this meeting? Not in Qunu, surely, because they can’t hold a meeting at Mama Winnie’s house without her blessings.”
Mandla Mandela confirmed that he was served with court papers by the Mthatha sheriff regarding the interdict.
Arguments will be heard in the Eastern Cape High Court in Mthatha on Tuesday.
Mandla refused to comment any further.
Daludumo Mtirara, a close ally of Mandla’s, said: “There is clearly a problem in the Mandela household, we need time to sort these things out. We got the court papers that say we are not allowed to have a meeting in that Qunu property. We are not really shocked but we are still trying to find a solution.”
AbaThembu king Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s spokesperson, Mfundo Mtirara, said the king would be in court on Tuesday to support Madikizela-Mandela.
“We are fully behind Mama Winnie in this matter; she has every right to that house based on AbaThembu custom. And that meeting which has been called by Mandla and his puppets is illegitimate,” Mfundo Mtirara said.
