Winnie Mandela faces fraud charges
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the ex-wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela, was due in court today to face dozens of fraud charges.
Madikizela-Mandela, the president of the ANC Women’s League, is accused along with her financial adviser of attempting to obtain bank loans for non-existent league employees.
Both have pleaded not guilty to 85 counts of fraud and theft charges.
Authorities claim 60 people falsely claiming to be women’s league staff obtained loans from the Saambou Bank.
They all carried letters on women’s league stationery confirming their employment, and most of those letters were signed by Madikizela-Mandela, authorities said.
Prosecutors said €56,000 was later deposited in Madikizela-Mandela’s personal accounts. The accounts have since been frozen.
Madikizela-Mandela has denied any wrongdoing, saying she had reported the crime to the police.
If convicted in the Pretoria High Court, the 64-year-old could be jailed for 15 years.
An anti-apartheid hero, Madikizela-Mandela is wildly popular with many poor urban blacks. She has also been criticised by President Thabo Mbeki and senior ruling party officials as a self-promoting insubordinate.
In 1991, she was convicted of kidnapping and assault and sentenced to six years in prison. The sentence was reduced to a fine on appeal.
