MBOMBELA – A South African court has stopped the payment of R44,7 million (US$2.5m) to the late Vice President David Mabuza’s wife, as it ordered an investigation into the number of children he had outside wedlock.
The court’s decision was made after his daughter Tamara Silinda, requested that the funds be frozen until all of her siblings can be located.
Silinda, a medical student, approached the Mpumalanga High Court last week to stop the distribution of the funds because she was not listed as a beneficiary despite being one of her late father’s dependents.
Nonhlanhla Mnisi, Mabuza’s wife, was named as the only beneficiary to Mabuza’s millions. Her claim is disputed by Silinda’s mother, who was customarily married to the late Mabuza.
In his judgement, Judge Johannes Roelofse of the Mpumalanga High Court encouraged the family to find common ground.
“The court grants the application… to be stayed until proper investigation of the dependents of the deceased. As the defendant [Silinda] stated, people who depended on the deceased should not be thrown onto the streets; life should continue as normal.
“In my career as a judge, I have seen how these cases destroy families, causing more pain… which might not be the wish of the deceased person. I would like to plead with the Mabuza family to talk to each other and find a common ground…”
Silinda’s claim was supported by the Mabuza family, who were aggrieved at the proposed distribution of the pension funds.
Mabuza’s sister, Zandile Mabuza, told reporters that she was proud of her niece for taking the matter to court.
“My brother’s kids [should] get an equal and fair share of their father’s estate. We are giving special thanks to Tamara for standing up,” said Zandile.
“If it wasn’t for her, this money would have been paid and gone. We want to see justice for all of them. The majority of them are not working.”
Mabuza’s other children, listed as respondents in the case, also publicly sided with Tamara.
“We came to support our half-sister Tamara in her case against Mama Mnisi. All the items she wanted to address, we [also] wanted to address,” said Lindeni Mabuza.
