Nelason Mandela's two daughters have launched legal proceedings to oust anti-apartheid icon's friends from Mandela companies, an attempt the associates said they will fight.
Makaziwe and Zenani Mandela have filed a court application in which they have called for lawyers George Bizos and Bally Chuene as well as businessman Tokyo Sexwale to step down as directors from two companies arguing that they were never appointed by Nelson Mandela.
The daughters of 94-year-old Mandela claim that the three were never appointed as shareholders or directors of Harmonieux Investment Holdings and Magnifique Investment Holdings.
But the three men argue that Mandela asked them to help manage that portion of his estate.
Bizos, who defended Mandela in a 1960s treason trial and successfully opposed his death sentence, will reject accusations that he forced his way on the boards of two companies worth an estimated USD 1.7 million.
Ismail Ayob, another lawyer and close friend of Mandela, who represented him and his family while he was in prison, started the companies whose purpose was to channel the proceeds of Mandela's artworks for his children's benefit.
The exclusive artworks, featured a framed imprint of the global icon's hand.
Ayob, now has strongly attacked Bizos, claiming that Bizos forced him to personally repay 700,000 rands that he had paid out of the investment companies to Mandela's children trust accounts, because they were "down and out" at the time.
Ayob claimed that he had to cash in his retirement annuity to pay the amount.
"(Bizos) has hijacked the Mandela companies and he must resign," Ayob told the 'The Star' today.
But Bizos in turn called for court action against him and his colleagues alleging a ploy to resuscitate the sale of the artworks.
Lawyer Michael Hart, who is representing the three men accused by the Mandela sisters, said that in June 2004, Mandela, had ended his professional relationship with Ayob, identifying the independent professionals and businessmen of high repute to be appointed to replace Ayob and his family members as trustees of the various trusts and directors of companies owned by such trusts.
"We are instructed to record our client's complete rejection of the scurrilous allegations made by Makaziwe and Zenani in their court papers," Hart told the daily.
The claim by the Mandela sisters has also split members of the family, after Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, denied that he was one of the 19 Mandela family members that the sisters said in court papers supported their application.
"It is important at all times that we, as a family, avoid actions and decisions that will infringe on the dignity of my grandfather," Mandla told daily.
"I want to put it on record that I have never signed any sworn affidavit calling for the removal of the individuals mentioned," Mandla said.
The individuals were men of integrity who had always enjoyed the support of his grandfather, he added.
