Bid to halt auction of Winnie's goods

Johannesburg - Eleventh hour negotiations are underway to prevent the auction of some of MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's personal items to cover a debt to a college, her lawyer said on Tuesday.

"I have paid the full amount in terms of the capital. The only issue is the amount outstanding on interest," said Yandisa Dudula.

He had been personally instructed to pay the balance, which he did on Monday.

Art, furniture and a silver tea-set belonging to the ANC struggle icon were set to go under the hammer after a court judgment that she had defaulted on payment of fees to Abbotts College for her great niece, according to an earlier report by The Sowetan.

As a result, there would be an auction at her home in Orlando West, Soweto.

The Sowetan reported that Madikizela-Mandela signed an agreement on January 11 2008, pledging to pay R40 000 in accommodation fees, but there was an outstanding amount which included interest and legal fees.

Dudula was working to resolve the issue before the auction's scheduled start at 10:00.