 Nelson Mandela's children have launched a court case against several longtime associates of the former president in a dispute over the control of two companies, a South African newspaper reported Wednesday. As the nation prays for the ailing former president to get well, The Star can reveal that Mandela’s daughters Makaziwe and Zenani Mandela, supported by Mandela’s grandchildren, have made a court application to have advocate George Bizos, businessman Tokyo Sexwale and lawyer Bally Chuene removed from Harmonieux Investment Holdings and Magnifique Investment Holdings. The main purpose of the companies was to channel funds from the sale of 94-year-old Nelson Mandela's handprints for the benefit of the Mandela family. The proceeds are estimated to be worth about $1.7 million, reported The Star, without citing sources. FILE - In this June 17, 2010 file photo, former South African President Nelson Mandela leaves the chapel after attending the funeral of his great-granddaughter Zenani Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa.... (Associated Press) 
 
 The case was filed Monday in the Johannesburg High Court by Mandela's daughters, Makaziwe and Zenani Mandela, reported The Star, and was supported by the grandchildren of the anti-apartheid leader, who recently left a hospital after treatment for pneumonia. Makaziwe says in her affidavit: “All three – Bizos, Chuene and Sexwale – were invited to resign as directors, which invitation they declined. Bizos, Chuene and Sexwale were not formally appointed by the shareholder (Mandela) of the companies by way of any resolution," Makaziwe Mandela said in an affidavit, according to The Star. “There are also allegations that Bizos, Chuene and Sexwale – including Judge Clement Temba Sangoni – failed to carry out their duties as directors with due care, skill and diligence,” the court papers read. We are confident we were regularly appointed at the wish of Mr Mandela five years ago.” 
 
 Bizos said Makaziwe and Zenani had brought the court application “in order to further their interests and get their hands on the money”.
– Nelson Mandela is out of the hospital and recuperating at home after his latest health scare, but that doesn't mean the fight over the 94-year-old's money can't begin in earnest. Daughters Makaziwe and Zenani Mandela have sued to oust the directors of two companies that pull in boatloads of money from the sale of Mandela's handprints, reports the Star of South Africa. (Headline: "War over Madiba millions.") The daughters say the three men controlling the companies—including Mandela attorney George Bizos—were never properly appointed but have refused to step down. Bizos, though, who defended Mandela in court during the apartheid era, says that Mandela himself appointed them five years ago, reports AP. The daughters are just trying to "get their hands on the money," he said, which is a little confusing because the companies were set up to funnel money to Mandela's family in the first place.