Battle over DD Mabuza's estate

The former deputy president's daughter from a previous marriage has gone to court to lay claim to funds from his estate in a battle with his widow

- Lunga Mzangwe

A customary marriage from years past has come back to haunt the family of late former deputy president David Mabuza, with a woman claiming to be his wife and her daughter laying claim to his R44 million pension, dragging parties including the presidency to the high court.

The case, coming during Wills Week in South Africa, shows that Mabuza did not have a will when he died in July, while home affairs records show he was never married.

In Part A of the application, which is set to be heard in the high court in Mbombela next Tuesday, Mabuza’s daughter Tamara Silinda is trying to stop Alexander Forbes from paying the R44 million to Nonhlahla Mnisi, who was the second lady of the country when Mabuza was Cyril Ramaphosa’s deputy.

Silinda is also demanding that Alexandra Forbes pay her R40 000 monthly towards her basic maintenance, including clothing, transport and medical expenses. According to Silinda, she was dependent on Mabuza’s medical aid, hence her demands for her medical expenses to be covered from his pension money.

She is also demanding that Alexandra Forbes pay R127990 towards her yearly tuition fees at the University of Cape Town pending the finalisation of the matter. Her mother, Emunah Silinda, is the first applicant in the matter and Tamara is the second applicant.