Winnie Mandela on trial

THE financial adviser of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, former wife of Nelson Mandela, who is being tried along with her for fraudulently obtaining bank loans, yesterday said a senior bank official had authorised the transactions.

Addy Moolman told the Pretoria Regional Court there was an agreement that Saambou Bank would grant loans to employees of the African National Congress Women’s League, of which Madikizela-Mandela is president. When friends, relatives and others also showed interest in the loans, Moolman said Willie Meuter, then national director of the bank’s loans’ department, agreed those people could also apply for loans if they were recommended by Madikizela-Mandela. Moolman and Madikizela-Mandela have pleaded not guilty to 60 charges of fraud and 25 of theft involving almost £75,000.

The State says letters on the Women’s League letterhead, bearing Madikizela-Mandela’s signature, were used to obtain loans fraudulently from Saambou Bank in the name of bogus league employees and her daughter Zinzi. The trial, which started in July last year, resumed on Monday after a series of delays. One witness testified how she was made to sign a blank loan application form, fraudulently completed later under Moolman’s guidance. If convicted, 64-year-old Madikizela-Mandela could face 15 years in prison.