Former Transkei homeland leader Bantu Holomisa has written a sworn statement saying AbaThembu king Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo could not have allocated a site to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela as he was not yet king in 1989.
Holomisa wrote in his affidavit to the Mthatha High Court that the site, located along the N2 in Qunu, which is being claimed by Madikizela-Mandela, was allocated to Nelson Mandela "shortly after his release from prison".
Madikizela-Mandela claims that the property belongs to her as it had been given to her by the Thembu king and the community of Qunu.
Several people have come out in support of Madikizela-Mandela, saying they were present when the plot was given to her.
In his affidavit, Holomisa said that the allocation was done in two phases: first the small plot and then the rest of the farm after 1994.
Holomisa said that when he visited Mandela in Soweto a few days after the iconic statesman was released from prison, he asked if Mandela would consider building a home in Qunu.
"He said he would give that a thought. [A] few months thereafter he called me and informed [me] that he intended to build his home [in] Qunu, his birthplace. He requested me to obtain architectural drawings of the house he lived in when he was imprisoned at Victor Verster Prison. He wanted to build a replica thereof."
Holomisa said he got in touch with the late chief Zwelebango Balizulu, the husband of Chief Nokwanele Balizulu.
"He took me to an open space at Qunu and said that it was the site that had been allocated to Mr Mandela. He never indicated that the site had already been allocated to [Madikizela-Mandela] in this matter."
Holomisa said that after he was shown the site, Mandela asked him to assist in getting contractors to start with the construction of the home.
"The construction started and got finalised without any involvement of [Madikizela-Mandela]," he said.
Holomisa said in 1994, after Dalindyebo was installed as king, he wished to donate the land adjacent to the site as the one with the house was too small.
"Mr Mandela felt that he could not receive the donation without giving something to the community of Qunu, hence he donated a sum of R150000 to them," said Holomisa.
He did not say who the money was paid to.
The king's spokesman Chief Bhovulengwe Mtirara said: "The plot was given to Mam' uWinnie. Madiba was in jail at the time, he is lying." Mtirara said he would comment further when he had spoken to Dalindyebo.
Madikizela-Mandela's lawyer Mvuzo Notyesi was not available for comment. A date for the court hearing has yet to be set.
Qunu land claim refuted
Former Transkei homeland leader Bantu Holomisa has written a sworn statement saying AbaThembu king Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo could not have allocated a site to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela as he was not yet king in 1989.
Holomisa wrote in his affidavit to the Mthatha High Court that the site, located along the N2 in Qunu, which is being claimed by Madikizela-Mandela, was allocated to Nelson Mandela "shortly after his release from prison".
Madikizela-Mandela claims that the property belongs to her as it had been given to her by the Thembu king and the community of Qunu.
Several people have come out in support of Madikizela-Mandela, saying they were present when the plot was given to her.
In his affidavit, Holomisa said that the allocation was done in two phases: first the small plot and then the rest of the farm after 1994.
Holomisa said that when he visited Mandela in Soweto a few days after the iconic statesman was released from prison, he asked if Mandela would consider building a home in Qunu.
"He said he would give that a thought. [A] few months thereafter he called me and informed [me] that he intended to build his home [in] Qunu, his birthplace. He requested me to obtain architectural drawings of the house he lived in when he was imprisoned at Victor Verster Prison. He wanted to build a replica thereof."
Holomisa said he got in touch with the late chief Zwelebango Balizulu, the husband of Chief Nokwanele Balizulu.
"He took me to an open space at Qunu and said that it was the site that had been allocated to Mr Mandela. He never indicated that the site had already been allocated to [Madikizela-Mandela] in this matter."
Holomisa said that after he was shown the site, Mandela asked him to assist in getting contractors to start with the construction of the home.
"The construction started and got finalised without any involvement of [Madikizela-Mandela]," he said.
Holomisa said in 1994, after Dalindyebo was installed as king, he wished to donate the land adjacent to the site as the one with the house was too small.
"Mr Mandela felt that he could not receive the donation without giving something to the community of Qunu, hence he donated a sum of R150000 to them," said Holomisa.
He did not say who the money was paid to.
The king's spokesman Chief Bhovulengwe Mtirara said: "The plot was given to Mam' uWinnie. Madiba was in jail at the time, he is lying." Mtirara said he would comment further when he had spoken to Dalindyebo.
Madikizela-Mandela's lawyer Mvuzo Notyesi was not available for comment. A date for the court hearing has yet to be set.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos