‘No one wants to touch a Mandela’

Zondwa Mandela, grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela, speaks during the launch of Mandela Sports & Culture Day 2013 and the official handover of the Confederations Cup Finalist commemorative gift to the Nelson Mandela Center of Memory in Johannesburg July 4, 2013. South Africa's anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela remains in a "critical but stable" condition after nearly four weeks in hospital being treated for a lung infection, the government said on Thursday. The update on the health of the 94-year-old former President followed a visit to the hospital by current President Jacob Zuma. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: POLITICS)

Zondwa Mandela, grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela, speaks during the launch of Mandela Sports & Culture Day 2013 and the official handover of the Confederations Cup Finalist commemorative gift to the Nelson Mandela Center of Memory in Johannesburg July 4, 2013. South Africa's anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela remains in a "critical but stable" condition after nearly four weeks in hospital being treated for a lung infection, the government said on Thursday. The update on the health of the 94-year-old former President followed a visit to the hospital by current President Jacob Zuma. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: POLITICS)

Published Mar 27, 2015

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Johannesburg - It has been more than three years, but the Hawks have not questioned Nelson Mandela’s grandson Zondwa in connection with a fraud case.

According to a source, it is because they are too scared to arrest him.

Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi said a case of fraud against Mandela, a director of Aurora, was registered in 2012 after he deposited two fraudulent cheques to buy shares into an account of the lawyer representing the company. “Both cheques bounced,” said Mulaudzi.

The case being investigated involves a 2010 deal in which Aurora Empowerment Systems was due to pay R5.3 million for shares in Labat Africa.

A report penned by Johannesburg Commercial Crime Unit commander Brigadier Leslie Magson said the investigations revealed that Aurora has a closing balance of only R33 626.40 and the cheques were therefore issued with the knowledge that there were insufficient funds to cover them.

The report stated that investigations revealed that two cheques drawn from Aurora’s account and signed by Mandela were valued at R4 950 000 and R550 000. Also, the deposit was made in 2010 from an Aurora trust account.

“The investigating officers have been unable to make contact with Mr Mandela to obtain his warning statement,” read a report.

However, a source close to the investigation told The Star that investigators were scared to arrest Mandela, the managing director of Aurora, because of his influential surname.

“No one wants to touch a Mandela. They claimed they have looked for him at Mandela’s residence in Houghton and at the Nelson Mandela Foundation offices, but could not find him. That’s just a silly excuse,” the source said.

“Zondwa lives in Johannesburg. If they are serious about finding him, it won’t even take a day. Imagine it has taken close to four years. It just doesn’t make sense. Why can’t they subpoena him like any other person?”

Mulaudzi said arrangements had been made with Mandela’s lawyers to facilitate a meeting this week.

But Mandela’s lawyer, David Swartz, denied this.

“There has never been any arrangement for my client to meet the Hawks. I don’t know anything about any investigation against my client,” Swartz said.

Aurora was appointed to take over the management of two of Pamodzi Gold’s mines in Gauteng and North West. Its directors, who also include President Jacob Zuma’s nephew Khulubuse, have been accused of destroying the infrastructure at the mines and causing the loss of about 5 000 jobs.

The case involving a R1.5 billion damages suit brought by the liquidators against the directors of Aurora Empowerment Systems was due to come before the High Court in Pretoria on Friday. The directors are accused of stripping the assets of the liquidated Pamodzi Gold’s mines in Gauteng and North West.

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The Star

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