Graca inherits bulk of fortune
Kathryn Kimberley
THE bulk of Nelson Mandela's R46-million estate was left to his wife Graca Machel, with provision also made for the remainder of his family, the ANC, members of his staff and various education institutions.
And Mandela's affection for his third wife and her family was once again evident yesterday when the reading of the will revealed that he had bequeathed almost R7-million to Machel's children and step-children.
The will was read by Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke to a media gathering in Johannesburg. Moseneke, a long-time friend of Mandela's and one of three appointed executors, said the will was first read to the Mandela family during a private gathering earlier in the morning.
"The reading of a will always comes with emotion. Clarity was sought from time to time," he said. "Virtually all family members were present."
The Mandela family was not available for comment. Moseneke said the executors, including Eastern Cape Judge President Themba Sangoni and Advocate George Bizos, SC, had agreed on full transparency in the handling of the estate in view of the public interest following the former president's death on December 5.
He said Machel had 90 days to decide whether or not to waive her right to half of the estate and instead take full ownership of other assets as set out in the will. The two were married in community of property in 2008, meaning she was entitled to 50% of the joint estate.
However, a clause in the will allows her to waive her right to half the estate and instead take full ownership of specified items that are part of the joint estate, including four properties, motor vehicles, artwork and jewellery.
Lawyers said yesterday that Machel would have to weigh up her options because these assets could be worth more than half of the estate.
If Machel waives her right to half the estate, she will instead take full ownership of three houses in Maputo and a property in Chilembene, all in Mozambique, the contents of those houses, all motor vehicles of the joint estate, jewellery, any items she wishes to remove from the Houghton, Johannesburg home, R6.6-million to be divided among her children and step-children, and all money in bank accounts registered in her name.
Meanwhile, Mandela has already given just more than R3-million to each of his surviving children – Makaziwe, Zenani Dlamini and Zindzi.
Makaziwe is the only surviving child from Mandela's first marriage to Evelyn Mase. Her brothers, Makgatho and Madiba, are dead. Dlamini and Zindzi were born out of Mandela's second marriage to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. While Mandela left just more than R3-million to his grandchildren born from his sons, the grandchildren born from his daughters each received R100000.
Grandchildren Mandla, Ndaba, Mbuso and Andile – the children of the late Makgatho – and Nandi and Ndileka – the children of Madiba – each inherited just more than R3-million.
Meanwhile, grandchildren Tukwini, Dumani and Kweku – the children of Makaziwe – and Zaziwe, Zamaswazi and Zinhle – the children of Dlamini – and Zoleka, Zondwa, Bambatha and Zwelabo – the children of Zinzi – each inherited R100000.
In a surprise twist, Mandela also left R3-million to each of Machel's two children from her first marriage to the late former Mozambican president Samora Machel, and a combined R600000 to Samora's children from his first marriage. Mandela left R50000 to each of his nine staff members, including Zelda la Grange, his personal assistant for 16 years.
Mandela bequeathed his Houghton property to the Nelson Mandela Trust. However, he stipulated that Mandla's younger brothers Ndaba, Mbuso and Andile, should be allowed to live there freely "until the trustees of the Nelson Mandela Trust, after consultation with the Mandela and Machel families, decide otherwise".
Shares in a Cape Town property, his Qunu home, a property in West Street in Mthatha, and R1.5-million cash, was left to the NRM Family Trust.
He directed that the trustees should at their sole discretion consider paying subject to the availability of funds a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 30% of the royalties to the ANC.
"Royalty payments must be used at the discretion of the ANC national executive committee for the purpose of recording and or disseminating information on the ANC principles and policies since 1912, particularly on the policies and principles of reconciliation amongst the people of South Africa," he said. ANC national spokesman Jackson Mthembu said the party was "humbled" by the contribution. Mandela also left R100000 to each of the educational institutions he had attended in his life, three of which are in the Eastern Cape.
