Mandelas want their money

The Mandela family is heading back to court today.

This time it's over access to money that has accrued in trusts the elder statesman set up for the upkeep of his family.

Lawyers representing Madiba's daughters and grandchildren will square up against his appointed trustees and confidants.

Among the latter are Mandela's long-time friend and lawyer, George Bizos, and politician and former Robben Island prisoner Tokyo Sexwale. At issue is money.

The Mandela-appointed trustees are having none of it. They say their overriding duty is to carry out Madiba's wishes.

Mandela-appointed trustee Tokyo Sexwale said: "We'll stick with it. It is at this time that those he asked to do certain things must stand firm. If we don't, that would be behaving like traitors."

The two sides have spent the past few weeks trying to reach a settlement but failed.

To make matters worse, the lawyer representing Madiba's family, Ismail Ayob, has quit.

The family has since found a new lawyer. They say nothing and no one is going to deter them from fighting on.

Former president Nelson Mandela has begun his 52nd day in hospital.