By Fiona Forde
Madiba's daughters have decided to take on Tokyo Sexwale and Denis Sassou-Nguesso over the Congolese president's semi-autobiographical book and Nelson Mandela's disputed foreword to it.
In an exclusive interview with Independent Newspapers yesterday, Zindzi Mandela and her older sister Zenani Dlamini said they will not let the matter rest until the full truth is told, saying that they have the support of their mother, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, "100 percent".
The controversy erupted when Straight Speaking for Africa hit the shelves earlier this year, complete with a foreword by Madiba, drawing on an alleged speech he made in 1996 in Cape Town when he was president.
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It later transpired that it was the human settlements minister, who is also a member of the Nelson Mandela Foundation board, who authorised the use of the speech, though on the express conditions that it not be used as a foreword or a preface.
However, according to the foundation and the daughters, there is no written record of the speech in either the presidency's or the foundation's archives.
"The point of us speaking out now is to put the record straight," Zindzi said. "Because we doubt very much that a meeting ever took place. And we would like anyone who said otherwise to give us the facts. Give us the evidence. Let us have the recordings."
Should it transpire that no meeting took place or that the speech was not delivered, the sisters said they would support the foundation if it considers taking legal action. "And if they don't, we will consider doing it ourselves," Zindzi said.
According to sources close to the Congolese, a photo was taken at the meeting.
"What does a photo say," Zenani asked. "Was it taken in South Africa? Out of South Africa. If there is a photo, then let us see it."
They also question the manner in which Sexwale granted permission for Madiba's words to be used.
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