Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, controversial ex-wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela, appeared in court today charged with 85 counts of fraud and theft involving nearly £76,000.
Magistrates in Pretoria set her bail at £380 and scheduled a November 20 hearing on the charges that stem from an alleged fraud to obtain bank loans for non-existent employees of the African National Congress Women's League. She is the president of the league.
Mr Addy Moolman, a broker also charged in the case, is accused of obtaining bank loans for nonexistent women's league employees using Ms Madikizela-Mandela's name and letterheads. Mr Moolman surrendered to police in June and is in custody awaiting a November 20 hearing.
Requesting Ms Madikizela-Mandela's release without bail, her lawyer said she earned £1,311 a month, but spent an average of £5,550 per month. The difference was made up with donations from well-wishers and supporters.
An anti-apartheid hero, Ms Madikizela-Mandela is wildly popular with many poor urban blacks. She is also a figure of controversy often criticised by President Thabo Mbeki and senior ANC officials as a self-promoting insubordinate whose administrative disinterest has led to the deterioration of the women's league. She was quoted as telling The City Press newspaper on Sunday that it was odd she was being charged since she is the person who first reported the crime.
The charges are part of a campaign being waged against her by enemies within the ANC "to perpetuate what was started by the apartheid regime", she was quoted as saying.
AP