Controversial businessman Sandile Majali, who died four days ago, is set to be given a high-profile send off.
Majali, 48, who was found dead in a Sandton hotel the morning after Christmas Day, is to be buried in Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape on January 9. His body was removed from the government mortuary in Hillbrow yesterday and handed to a private undertaker to prepare him for burial.
A memorial service was scheduled to be held at the Bryanston Methodist Church, Joburg, at 3pm this afternoon.
Family insiders have revealed that, while the speakers list has yet to be finalised, those under consideration are struggle and ANC stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the Deputy Minister of Correctional Services and former Limpopo premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi, legal eagle Dumisa Ntsebeza, SC, and the Queen of the amaMpondo.
Majali was born in Port St Johns and was hugely popular in vast rural areas around the town.
It has been learnt from close relatives that Majali had a heart operation four weeks ago and that the respiratory problems thought to have led to his death were directly linked to his recuperation.
Independent Newspapers has also established why Majali was staying at the Quatermain Hotel, a stone’s throw from his house, when he died.
“He was estranged from his wife and was living with his girlfriend in the Morningside house,” a relative said.
“His children, who live with their mother in the Eastern Cape, came to spend Christmas with their father.
“Being a considerate father, he did not want the children and the girlfriend to be under the same roof, so he booked a suite at the hotel for himself and the woman.
“He did this out of decency and nothing else.”
It emerged this week that Majali’s estate may be sequestrated if his creditors and business partners bring claims to recover financial losses.
Johan Klopper, the managing director of Independent Corporate Recovery Advisors, which specialises in liquidation and curatorship cases, said: “If there are any legal claims regarding liquidation, then these may be claims against his estate.”
Klopper was a joint trustee of the estate of slain mining magnate Brett Kebble.
At the time of his death, Majali was facing charges of fraud over the alleged hijacking of a resources company and was believed to be in financial difficulty.
He had voluntarily liquidated his Imvume Resources business, which was sued by PetroSA for the recovery of R11-million that Majali diverted to the ANC before the 2004 elections instead of using it, as had been intended, to pay in advance for oil.
Majali was also involved in a court battle with the Financial Services Board over his business dealings. - Pretoria News