Mandla Mandela is supposed to pay R20,000 towards Tando Mabunu-Mandela's legal fees and her monthly maintenance of R12,500 while their divorce proceedings are under way

The lawyer acting for the estranged wife of Mandla Mandela, grandson of former president Nelson Mandela, has said he and his client would come up with a new proposal for the payment of maintenance by Mandla Mandela after the failure of their attempts to attach his assets.

The sheriff of the Mthatha High Court has twice failed to attach Mandela's property at his Mvezo Great Place home outside the city.

The court earlier this year ordered Mandela, who is the chief of the Mvezo, to pay R20,000 towards Tando Mabunu-Mandela's legal fees and her monthly maintenance of R12,500 while their divorce proceedings are under way.

The court also froze half the money in Mandela's bank accounts pending finalisation of the divorce, and annulled his marriage to Anais Grimaus, his partner from Reunion with whom he conceived a baby boy.

Despite the court order, Mandela failed to make the payments and Mabunu-Mandela returned to court to have her husband's property attached.

In June, the court ruled in Mabunu-Mandela's favour and granted an order that property to the value of R100,000 be attached.

The sheriff of the court has failed to attach any property.

Mabunu-Mandela's lawyer, Wesley Hayes, has complained to the Board of Sheriffs about Mthatha sheriff Mlandeli Joki.

Hayes yesterday said he was unhappy with Joki's service and has asked the board for the ad hoc sheriff, Ncedile Ntsibantu, to attach Mandela's property.

But still nothing has been taken from Mvezo Great Place.

"We have got a court order. Mandla is not paying and the sheriff is not attaching," Hayes said. "Even after appointing an ad-hoc sheriff, there was still no attachment."

An e-mail from the Board of Sheriffs to Ntsibantu dated October 18 stated: "Please indicate what's the hold-up in the matter.

"You will attest that this matter has been taking far too long and that is honestly unacceptable."

In another e-mail, dated October 24, the board said: "Please kindly note that your blatant disregard of the board will be viewed in a serious light."

Ntsibantu responded the same day. He said that a warrant of execution had been served at Mvezo last Monday.

"Warrant of execution was executed yesterday, October 24, and at Mvezo A/A. After a diligent search, no property could be attached and a nulla bona certificate [document indicating the court could not satisfy judgment] is signed by a family member at the given address," Ntsibantu said in the e-mail.

Hayes yesterday said that he and his client would find alternative ways of getting Mandela to pay maintenance.

"We have to reassess our situation and see what our next step will be.

"Maybe, after considering all our options, we will garnishee his parliament salary or possibly any other income," Hayes said.

Said Ntsibantu: "I am sorry but I cannot comment. If you want information, speak to the Mandelas."

Mandela could not be reached.