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BEFORE THE TROUBLES: Mandla Mandela and his estranged first wife Tando. Photo: MOTLAPELE TAU

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If found guilty, he could face up to a year in prison.

Tando Mabunu-Mandela hit back at her husband with the criminal charge last week after he reportedly withdrew the couple's money out of his bank account, despite a court order prohibiting him from doing so.

According to Mabunu-Mandela, the ANC member of Parliament has failed to pay maintenance as per a court order for the past four months.

He also allegedly ensured she could not receive her monthly allowance through the Sheriff of the High Court when he emptied the bank accounts from which she was being paid.

Nearly R6-million is alleged to be missing from the accounts, half of which was frozen by the Mthatha High Court in December last year.

It is alleged that the money was transferred into the account of Mandela's infant son born from his second marriage - which has since been annulled.

Mandela and Mabunu-Mandela were married in community of property in 2007, and she accordingly claims that half the assets accumulated during their brief union belong to her.

She filed for divorce in 2009. The two have been fighting it out in court ever since.

Mandela's legal representative Gary Jansen yesterday blamed the media for the delay in divorce proceedings. He refused to comment further.

The Mthatha High Court had ordered the former chief to pay Mabunu-Mandela maintenance of R12500 a month, and some money towards her legal fees pending finalisation of the divorce.

However, according to her attorney Wesley Hayes, Mandela failed to honour the court order, and has failed to pay maintenance for nearly a year.

On numerous occasions last year Hayes was forced to obtain a writ from the court instructing the Sheriff to attach Mandela's assets, which included vehicles and livestock.

However, Hayes said the process became too expensive and so in December he obtained a court order freezing half of the cash in Mandela's two accounts. This totalled nearly R3-million. First National Bank was served with a copy of the court order.

If Mandela failed to pay maintenance, after two or three months the sheriff would go to the bank and withdraw the amount owed.

Hayes said Mandela currently owed his client just under R50000.

However, the sheriff is unable to recover the money as the account was allegedly emptied last month.

Hayes said he had still not received clarity on the whereabouts of the cash. Yesterday, he said he was still in talks with FNB and would consider bringing charges of contempt against them should the R3-million not be recovered.

Mabunu-Mandela opened criminal charges at the Bityi police station outside Mthatha last Thursday.

Police at the station yesterday confirmed that a case had been opened. The matter is still under investigation.

This is the latest in a string of charges that Mandela faces as a result of the bitter divorce.

Comments

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Sat May 25 19:53:54 SAST 2013 ::

May 21, 2012

MommaC

What an arrogant pr!ck Mandla has turned into. Such a blemish on the Mandela name.
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May 21, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Stupid man carries a very powerfull sur name!!! Jah e maswi ga i tswale!!!
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May 21, 2012

Pointman

How come he gets away with it. Contempt of court is supposed to be a serious offence.
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May 21, 2012

HLEZIPHI

Eish dis maintenance thing! please guys be responsible! it doesnt have to be ugly like this! Tjo!
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May 21, 2012

KarlZimbiri

Although Mandela seems to be a headhot chap, this woman is also making easy things look difficult. She knew when she married Mandla that the chap is a traditional leader and he would later want to marry another wife. I don’t why people have sympathy over her. She came into the marriage with nothing but wants to come out a millionaire. If this is about love why so many court cases?
Look people, if your estranged wife takes U to court and wants U to pay the legal fees will that make sense? This is on top of the R12,500.00 maintenance she is being paid? Why cant she pull from the R12,500.00 to pay the legal fees? This woman must just be divorced, she is not fit to be the wife of a Chief.

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May 21, 2012

MommaC

KarlZimbiri

Therein lies the problem. People who either don't understand their own culture or who twist it to suit themselves. Polygamy is accepted in most SA cultures BUT every single one of those cultures gives the W1FE the deciding say in who may or may not be included into the marriage.
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May 21, 2012

RobinH

" infant son born from his second marriage - which has since been annulled"..... The boy is working up to beat daddy's record. Next thing he'll be in oil on a wall with parts hanging out, and empty pockets turned out.
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May 21, 2012

maditaba

I know this lady thinks she is standing up for he rights, but all this court actions are gonna drain her emotionally, financially. She is going to end up the biggest looser
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May 21, 2012

Dandan

KarlZimbiri


good point, this woman has boiling head, but I will blame Mandla again for nt dealing with this girl, umfazi uyalungiswa bemkhiphe legazi elibi otherwise ubayinkinga njengoba ehlanya nje
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May 21, 2012

RobinH

Whioops. My apologies. Wrong president..... This guy is a blot on the family name.
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