Mandla Mandela is set to wed on Saturday morning despite being interdicted by his estranged first wife Tando Mabunu in the Mthatha High Court.
The Mandela family spokesperson for the event Sidima Mnqanqeni confirmed to the South African Press Association (Sapa) that former president Nelson Mandela’s son, Mandla, would, as planned, marry Mbali Makhathini at the Mvezo Great Place.
“We are confident that there will be no disturbance and the marriage is on,” said Mnqanqeni.
Earlier this week, Mabunu was granted a prohibitory court order against Mandela, which prohibits him from marrying anyone while still validly married to her.
Now it seems the Mandela family will ignore the court order.
Mandela was also ordered to pay the costs of the application by Mabunu.
The court order against him comes just two days after Mandela’s assets were attached by a Port Elizabeth sheriff for apparently defaulting on paying a living maintenance fee to his former wife Mabunu.
The assets seized reportedly included a minibus and several heads of cattle.
Allegedly, Mandela has on numerous occasions failed to pay R20 000 towards Mabunu’s legal fees and also R12 500 as living maintenance performances.
The stage is set
A white marquee was set outside the Mvezo Royal Palace where the main marital celebration is expected to take place.
Mnqanqeni said they would use the royal palace for the event.
“Because this is a traditional wedding it is necessary that the royal palace residence be used for some rituals which need to be performed,” he said.
The wedding is due to commence with bride eating utsiki (a piece of goat meat).
Mnqandeni explained that this piece of meat indicates that the bride was now embedded (ukwenda) into the Mandela family.
This will be followed by a ritual called ukutyisa amasi where the wife will drink source milk from the homestead, before being led to the royal court where she will be introduced through a ritual practice to the ancestors.
Some well-wishers from Swaziland and around the world have already arrived in the area. Among the guests invited are royal kings including AmaXhosa King Mpendulo Sigcau and AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo,
Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) president Chief Patekile Holomisa and the Eastern Cape chairperson for traditional leaders Chief Ngangomhla Matanzima of Western Tembuland are also expected to attend.
Local traditional chiefs are expected to lead the traditional wedding celebration.
It is believed that Dalindyebo — who is currently appealing a sentence of 15 years in jail he was given two years ago on charges of arson, culpable homicide and assault — will also play a major role in the marriage.
Dalindyebo belongs to the same clan as Mandla and is also the former president’s nephew. — Sapa