*Graça Machel under threat as bitter rows erupt over Madiba’s money* · Debora Patta <http://www.citypress.co.za/author/debora-patta> @City_Press <http://twitter.com/City_Press>22 December 2013 14:00
· · A raging war has broken out in Nelson Mandela’s family. · Its members are fighting over his estate and are moving to kick out his widow, Graça Machel, from the house she shared with her late husband. · The past six months have been a nightmare for Machel as the world’s beloved statesman lay dying. · She has endured rejection and abuse from some members of the sprawling Mandela dynasty. · Six sources inside and outside the Mandela household have told City Press that: · *»* Machel was told by members of the Mandela family that she should leave the Houghton home as soon as Madiba died; · *»* There was a massive row in the weeks before his death between Machel and grandson Ndaba in which household members had to intervene; · *»* Mandela’s eldest daughter, Makaziwe, often refuses to speak to Machel; and · *»* Makaziwe has verbally abused staff and repeatedly insisted she alone will determine how to divide the spoils of Mandela’s estate. · Attempts to obtain any comment from the family were unsuccessful. · Voice, text and Facebook messages, as well as emails, went unanswered as were questions sent to Makaziwe and Ndaba Mandela through their lawyer on Friday. · Machel’s personal assistant said the widow could not comment because she was in mourning. · Sources in the Mandela household and the family, as well as family friends, say the Mandelas have never really accepted Machel. She is often rejected, excluded and often simply ignored. · But simmering hostilities erupted into bitter feuding when, earlier this year, grandson Ndaba Mandela, who lives in the Houghton home, had a raging row with Machel. · He allegedly accused her of being an opportunist and of stealing his grandfather’s money. · At one point, household sources told City Press “he even tried to attack her physically but was restrained from doing so after the intervention of household staff”. · As one staff member said: “They all hate Graça and believe there is a lot more money than there really is and that she is hiding it. · “Mandela looked after every child and grandchild but they seem to think there is a lot more money and want to get their hands on it.” · A family member said the suspicion remains “that Graça has spent all the money”. · However, Machel, like other family members, had been taken care of by Mandela but also has her own income and a separately funded charity foundation. · Before Mandela fell ill, she was told by some of his family members that she “should watch out” as “she would be kicked out of the Houghton house as soon as Tata died”. · Machel has already bought another home in Bryanston and is expected to move in once the mourning period for Mandela is over. · She spent the week after the funeral at Mandela’s Qunu residence and only returned to Houghton this weekend. · However, it’s unlikely that Machel found much peace in Qunu. · Her eldest stepchild, Makaziwe Mandela, flew there after the memorial service at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium and reduced staff to tears as she “stomped around the place, barking orders”. · A family friend who visited the house immediately after Mandela died, said Makaziwe was already throwing her weight around insisting that “she would determine who would get which Mandela house”. · The battle for the Mandela inheritance has not yet begun.
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