Johannesburg — NELSON Mandela's erstwhile lawyer Ismail Ayob says he stands by the allegations he made against the former president and only apologised this week because he could no longer cope with his legal bills. Ayob's recent comments suggest his wrangle with Mandela could still have another life and more details of the former president's financial affairs could still come out in the open. In an order of the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday, Ayob agreed to pay R800,000 that he took from the trust and also offered an apology to Mandela for statements "which might be construed as defamatory".
The trust brought legal action against Ayob last year to recover R2,2m paid out without the knowledge and authority of the other trustees. The trustees accused him of trying to cover up millions of rands they allege he spent unlawfully.
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