State Cars Sought From Winnie Mandela

Winnie Mandela, the estranged wife of President Nelson Mandela, is in trouble again.

The South African government has instructed state prosecutors to take all legal steps necessary to recover two of Mandela’s cars and a cellular telephone that are state property.

Mandela lost her rights to the cars and phone in April, when her husband fired her from her post as deputy minister for arts, culture, science and technology for making an unauthorized trip.

The Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology issued a statement Friday saying it had instructed prosecutors “to pursue all administrative and legal measures necessary” to get the state property back.

The statement said that Mandela had failed to respond to several requests to return the goods.

Nelson Mandela, 77, recently filed for divorce from his 60-year-old wife. The couple have lived apart since 1991, a year after Mandela was freed from 27 years’ imprisonment for fighting against apartheid.