A talker and boxer

Mandla Mandela yesterday said his grandfather, Nelson Mandela, had taught him to negotiate differences peacefully.

But, almost in the same breath, he admitted to having slapped Mthatha teacher Mlamli Ngudle over a car crash involving one of his business associates.

Mandela told the Mthatha Regional Court that, as a member of parliament and a traditional leader, he had a responsibility to keep the peace and restore order in Mthatha, especially as the area was his constituency.

"I come from a humble home, the Mandela royal family. My grandfather taught me always to be exemplary and negotiate difficult situations.

"My grandfather taught me to always be a role model and his teachings I hold in high regard. It is in that spirit that I went to reason with Mr Ngudle. I felt we could work out our differences," he said.

Mandela is facing assault charges after allegedly kicking Ngudle, stamping on him and hitting him on the head with a handgun.

When prosecutor Jongikhaya Busakwe asked him: " Can you say a person who hits a heavily drunk person is highly principled?", Mandela responded: "I'm a boxer, just like my grandfather."

Busakwe retorted: "The only thing boxers do is hit, correct?"

"They also defend themselves," Mandela replied.

He denied losing his temper after Ngudle swore at him but said he acted in self-defence because Ngudle was about to punch him.

"I never lose my temper ... It is Mr Ngudle who lost his temper. I was not angry but very embarrassed."

Mandela said Ngudle had called him a boy and a dog and had insulted his mother.

Ngudle's lawyers had demanded that he deposit R500000 into their client's account soon after the incident, Mandela said.

Ngudle has previously denied that he wanted to sue Mandela for "millions".