Legalbrief | your legal news hub Thursday 30 September 2021

Mandela granddaughter lashes out at George Bizos

A granddaughter of has harshly criticised lawyer George Bizos in an escalation of a dispute over funds linked to the former President, says a Mail & Guardian Online report.

Tukwini Mandela accused lawyer George Bizos of insulting her mother, slandering the Mandela family name and spreading 'blatant lies and innuendo' in a bitter rift over control of two companies linked to 94-year-old Mandela, according to the report. It notes the main purpose of the companies is to channel funds from the sale of handprint artwork by Mandela for the benefit of his family. 'Please have the decency to behave as an elder if you care for my grandfather and his name, which catapulted you into undeserved stardom,' Tukwini Mandela wrote in an open letter that was e-mailed to the Associated Press this week. She urged Bizos, a stalwart of the struggle for equal rights, to act in a manner 'befitting of your status' in society, the report notes. It says Makaziwe Mandela, Tukwini's mother, and Makaziwe's sister Zenani Mandela-Dlamini have launched a court case against Bizos and two other associates of Nelson Mandela, alleging they should not remain directors of Harmonieux Investment Holdings and Magnifique Investment Holdings because they were not properly appointed. The case also alleges that the trio has neglected its duties at the helm of the companies. Media reports have quoted 84-year-old Bizos as saying Makaziwe Mandela's goal was to take some company money, estimated to be about R11.9m, without providing details of how it would be used. Full Mail & Guardian Online report