/ 5 January 2012

ANC to meet Mandelas in bid to limit fallout from Mandla mess

The ANC in the Eastern Cape is to sit down with the Mandela family in a bid to shield the party from the fallout over Mandla Mandela's marital woes.

The ANC’s Eastern Cape provincial working committee plans to meet with the Mandela family later in January to discuss Mvezo chief Mandla Mandela’s marital woes, the Dispatch Online reported on Thursday.

“We will schedule a meeting with Mandla and his family on completion of the ANC centenary celebrations in Mangaung on Sunday,” ANC provincial spokesperson Mlibo Qoboshiyane was quoted as saying.

He was afraid the negativity of developments relating to Mandela, a Member of Parliament, would be associated with the ANC.

Mandela’s first wife, Tando Mabunu-Mandela, laid criminal charges against him for defying one of a string of court orders.

In December last year Mabunu was granted an order by the Mthatha High Court prohibiting Mandela from marrying anyone while still validly married to her. He married KwaZulu-Natal woman Mbalenhle Makhathini on December 24 2011 anyway.

Mandela also defied a court order in 2010 to marry French teenager Anais Grimaud, according to the report. That marriage was annulled.

In October last year three Mveso families were granted a high court order prohibiting Mandela from building a hotel and stadium on their land.

Mandela is the grandson of former president Nelson Mandela. — Sapa