The Mandela family welcomes the judgment against Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and says she should never have taken it to court.

The anti-apartheid stalward’s lawyer say they will appeal the decision.

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Nelson Mandela left the Qunu property to all members of the Mandela family as a place to unify them.

He was married to Graça Machel when he died on December 5 2013.

His former wife was left out of his last will and testament released two months later.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s lawyers claim that the property was obtained while she was married to Mandela so in terms of AbaThembu custom it belongs to her irrespective of the divorce.

Advocate George Bizos, one of the executors of the former president’s will, opposed the action lodged by Madikizela-Mandela. The matter was dismissed with costs.

The royal family of the Kingdom of AbaThembu say the ruling shows Nelson Mandela was indeed a man of integrity who properly applied his mind before he finalised his will.

They believe Madikizela-Mandela was misled by some members of the family and that she did not receive the legal advice she needed.

The post Winnie Mandela loses her legal bid to own her former husband’s home appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

She wants rights to Mandela’s tribal home in Qunu which he bought when they were married.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s lawyer Mvuyo Notyesi written to co-executor of the former president’s will Dikgang Moseneke arguing that AbaThembu tribal custom dictates that the rights to the property go to Madikizela-Mandela and her descendants.

The lawyerssays this is applicable irrespective of whether the wife was divorced or not.

Notyesi says it’s only in this home that the children and grandchildren of Madikizela-Mandela can conduct their own customs and tradition.

He says supporting affidavits will be filed from AbaThembu elders, and King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo among others.

He maintains his approach is not an attack on Mandela’s will, but an assertion of customary and traditional rights.

Moseneke has acknowledged receipt of the letter and says the claim will be discussed tomorrow (Thursday).

Madikizela-Mandela, who was the former statesman’s second wife, for 38 years, was left out of Mandela’s will, which was released in February following his death in December last year.

Mandela wrote in his will that the Qunu property should be used by his family in perpetuity in order to preserve the unity of the Mandela family.

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