Cape Town – Western Cape police have confirmed that a charge of malicious damage to property has been laid against Desmond Tutu’s granddaughter, Ziyanda Tutu.
The charge was laid by Tutu’s wife Leah at the Milnerton Police Station last Thursday, Captain FC van Wyk told News24 on Friday via e-mail.
“This office can confirm that a malicious damage to property case was opened for investigation at Milnerton Saps by the complainant against her granddaughter on Thursday, May 7.”
The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation released a statement on the issue, but did not provide details about the charge.
It said the Tutu family was “naturally distressed and deeply saddened” and hopes it would soon “put this incident behind it”, AP reported.
Ziyanda took to social media to express her views, saying she did not steal anything from her grandparents.
On Thursday, Netwerk24’s Jana van der Merwe reported that Ziyanda was deeply hurt after the Anglican Archbishop Emeritus and his wife laid the criminal charge against her.
The 30-year-old told Netwerk24 that she would be handing herself over to the police on Friday.
She also felt the issue could have been dealt with privately.
News24
