Civil and customary law came under the spotlight in the Mthatha High Court yesterday as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela launched her claim to former president Nelson Mandela's Qunu house. The property was bequeathed to the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Family Trust by Mandela for the benefit of his family - including his wife, Graça Machel, and her children.But Madikizela-Mandela claims it was given to her by the tribal authority while Mandela was still in prison.Madikizela-Mandela claims that although the civil union was dissolved through a divorce, the customary marriage, which took place in 1958 by payment of ilobolo to her family, had not been dissolved.Her argument concerns her constitutional rights to the property as Mandela's wife. She is seeking an order reviewing and setting aside a decision taken by then minister of land affairs Derek Hanekom on November 16 1997 to donate land to Mandela, the state president.She is challenging Hanekom's approval of the registration of the property in Mandela's name.Executors of the former president's estate argued that the civil marriage "overrode" the customary marriage.The hearing continues today...