Winnie Loses Battle To Claim Mandela’s Ancestral Home

Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife has lost her legal bid for ownership of the former president’s rural home in South Africa.

A High Court dismissed Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s application and ordered her to pay all legal costs.

She argued that the house in Qunu village belonged to her under customary law.

The late former South African president bequeathed the property to his family when he died in 2013 aged 95.

The government opposed Ms Madikizela-Mandela’s bid to inherit the home after she launched court action in 2014.

Mr Mandela divorced Winnie in 1996 after a 38-year marriage, and left her out of his will.

They were South Africa’s most celebrated political couple until their marriage collapsed unexpectedly, some six years after his release from 27 years in prison for fighting apartheid.