The Battle For Mandla's Estate

Slain actor and radio host Mandla Hlatshwayo’s baby mamas are at loggerheads over who is entitled to the star’s assets.

- Hopewell Mpapu

HE DIED a hero while protecting two women in trouble and was lauded across the country for paying the ultimate price for his noble deed . But Mandla Hlatshwayo was barely cold before the women in his life started to do battle for a share of his estate – and it seems the battle is only just beginning.

Woman number one is Amanda Mabuso, the late Generations actor’s estranged wife, who is also the mother of two of his five children. She says she’s entitled to Mandla’s spoils – the couple was married for 12 years and although they’d been separated for five they had never divorced.

Woman number two, known only as Mummy, is mother to two of his other kids and was living with Mandla when he died. She believes she should inherit it all.

Number three is his girlfriend Kombi Nbugane, another baby mama who wants a slice of the pie too.

Mandla was shot dead at a pub in Pimville, Soweto, on 14 May after rushing to the aid of two women who were being robbed by thugs. The murder shocked SA and plunged his family into a state of disbelief and grief (He died a hero, 25 May).

But as the funeral drew nearer it was clear Mandla – whom everyone described as a gentle soul with a heart of gold – also had a rather complicated love life.

All three of his women wanted to be chief mourners at his funeral in Soweto but it was Mummy who occupied pride of place on the mourning mattress and also at the memorial service at the Protea South Multipurpose Centre in Soweto alongside Mandla’s family.

Mummy sat alongside Mandla’s mother, Phindi, wearing a black scarf and dress. She was overcome with emotion and could only look straight ahead while her late lover’s mourners shared their memories of him.