South Africa: Nelson Mandela's ex-wife to contest his will

(AGI) - Cape Town, 29 Feb - Nelson Mandela's former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela will be contesting the Apartheid struggle icon's will in the Mthatha High Court in the Eastern Cape province today. Madikizela-Mandela is attempting to claim ownership of Mandela's home in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape. Mvuso Notvesi, the lawyer representing Madikizela-Mandela, said that papers challenging the will in relation to the Qunu house were initially filed during October 2014. Madikizela-Mandela claimed that the property had been obtained while she was still married to Mandela and belonged to her according to the AbaThembu, the tribe to which the former South African president belonged, custom. In his last will and testament released in February 2014, Mandela left the Qunu property to all members of the Mandela family as a place to unify them. Madikizela-Mandela was left out of the will, but Mandela left R3 million each for their two children: Zenani Mandela-Dlamini and Zindzi Mandela. Notvesi told broadcaster eNCA that there are two issues to consider. The first is the assertion that the land was donated to her former husband, Nelson Mandela. The second is the argument that a civil divorce doesn't terminate a customary marriage. "When that home was built, it was built as a rural home village of the Mandelas. It was for former president Mandela, mama Madikizela-Mandela and their children and generally in rural areas there are no title deeds," said Notvesi. Madikizela-Mandela was Mandela's second wife. They divorced in 1996 after 38 years of marriage. Madikizela-Mandela reportedly wanted a R20-million divorce settlement, which she said was half of Mandela's assets. Her claim was unsuccessful. (AGI) .