George Bizos, SC, has indicated his intention to challenge former president Nelson Mandela's daughters to prove their allegations of improper conduct against him, it was reported on Thursday.
He filed papers in the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, nine days after Mandela's daughters Makaziwe and Zanani made the claims against him, The Star reported.
Bizos, Bally Chuene and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale faced a default judgment if they failed to file their intention to defend on time.
"We served our clients' notice of intention to oppose on April 23," Lisa Thomas, of the law firm Norton Rose, which acts on their behalf, told the newspaper.
Thomas said answering affidavits would be filed next month. Once the replying papers were filed, a trial date would be set for the hearing of argument.
Mandela's daughters have asked the court to issue an order instructing Bizos, Chuene and Sexwale to withdraw their directorships in Harmonieux Investment Holding and Magnifique Investment Holding.
The sisters claimed the three had refused numerous written requests to resign, made through their attorney Ismail Ayob in August.
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