South Africa’s Mandela Fires His Wife Again

South African President Nelson Mandela, who fired his estranged wife from his Cabinet only to rehire her under threat of legal action, fired her again Friday - this time according to the letter of the law.

The firing is likely to fuel further political and perhaps personal clashes between the Mandelas, as well as between Winnie Mandela and the African National Congress. Many leaders are angered at what is viewed as her attempt to publicly humiliate her husband by finding a technicality on which to fight her earlier dismissal.

Winnie Mandela challenged her March 27th dismissal in a lawsuit this week on grounds that the president had not consulted with party leaders in his coalition government, as required by the constitution.

To avoid the legal battle, Nelson Mandela reinstated his wife Wednesday. Then he consulted with Inkatha Freedom Party leader and Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi and with Deputy President Frederik W. de Klerk of the National Party and fired his wife again “after due consultation and weighing up a myriad of factors which may or may not be related to the incumbent,” according to Nelson Mandela’s statement Friday.

Winnie Mandela had no immediate comment.