Nelson Mandela's ex-wife wants media to keep off late icon's family

Thursday, December 19, 2013

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Nelson Mandela's ex-wife Winnie has blasted the media over the coverage of wrangles in her family that relate to succession saying that all was well amongst her three daughters and the heir of the fallen icon, Mandla.

Several South African media outlets have reported of bitter infighting even before the death of Mandela which happened on December 5, where Mandla- the former President’s eldest grandson has reportedly been alienated from the family’s affairs.

Now Winnie Madikizela-Mandela says that the media outlets have been reporting half-truths about her family while discounting that there was nothing like a ‘succession or dynasty’ among the Mandela’s clan members. "These reports have done nothing but use half-truths to cast a shadow on the Mandela family during their time of bereavement," read a statement by Winnie whose marriage to the former President was dissolved in 1992. Winnie accused the media outlets of employing ‘apartheid-style’ tactics on their coverage which have dented the image of South Africa’s first black President who was buried on Sunday.

“Numerous articles, op-eds, reports and editorials in outlets …have hammered on the idea that the Mandela family is at war with itself since the news first broke that Madiba is no longer with us. These reports have done nothing but use half-truths to cast a shadow on the Mandela family during their time of bereavement,” she added. South African media have reported of a soaring feud where Mandela- the leader of Mandela’s clan, had fallen out with Winnie’s three daughters and had been locked out on important family events including Sunday burial. It was also reported that the locks in Mandela’s rural home in Eastern Cape were changed shortly after his eldest daughter, Makaziwe, arrived there on Thursday last week, likely to keep Mandla out.

At stake is the brand ‘Mandela’ which is estimated to be worth billions owing to the stature of the departed leader, at home in South Africa and even across the globe.

Even though Winnie denied any fallout, she was clear in her statement that her eldest Makaziwe will head the family and that she will make decisions with the support of her two sisters. Makaziwe was responsible for all funeral preparations while Mandla’s role since Mandela died was limited even though he was the public face of the family, to imply the widening fallout.

Mandla has accused Winnie’s daughters of side-lining him so that they gain full control of Mandela’s estate. The fallout can be traced back to an incident where Mandla moved the graves of his father and Mandela’s two other deceased children to his Mvezo village near Qunu.

It is thought that the step was meant to force Mandela to be buried in Mvezo rather than Qunu upon his death. Members of the Mandela family moved to court in July 2013 and were granted their pleas to have Mandla return the returns to Qunu.

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