Executors leave Qunu home out of Mandela estate

A soldier walks past an image of Nelson Mandela on the grounds of the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu.

A soldier walks past an image of Nelson Mandela on the grounds of the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu.

Published May 27, 2016

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Johannesburg - Executors distributing Nelson Mandela’s estate have left out the former president’s home in Qunu, Eastern Cape, because his former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is contesting ownership of the property in the courts.

Former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, who is one of the executors appointed by Mandela before he died, said they awaited the court’s outcome over the disputed home before distributing it as per Mandela’s will.

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Mandela died at the age of 95 on 5 December 2013 after suffering from a prolonged respiratory infection.

“The deceased home, situated in Qunu, and the removable assets thereof, which includes cattle and other farming implements, have been left out of the account. We are anticipate preparing a lodge with the master of the court and deal with Qunu home once the dispute between the executors and mamaWinnie Madikizela-Mandela has been resolved,” said Moseneke.

In his will, Mandela left the Qunu house into administration by the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela family trust, where the house would be used by his family, his widow Graca Machel and her two children.

“The Qunu property should be used by my family in order to preserve the unity of the Mandela family,” the statesman stated in his will.

Madikizela-Mandela, who was Mandela’s second wife, was left out of the will and did not receive anything from the estate.

She subsequently lodged a claim to the Qunu house in the Mthatha High Court in 2014, stating that Mandela acquired the house while they were still married. The court dismissed her application with costs.

Her lawyers have since indicated that they are going to appeal the court ruling, either at the Supreme Court of Appeal or the Constitutional Court.

Moseneke said there were no fights within the Mandela family over the estate, which will distribute as much as R22 million.

“Despite speculations in the media, there was no fights within the family. The family was united, gave us support … something that was befitting the stature of Mr Mandela and the love he had for all the family. I admire all of you [family] for being so patient and supportive through all the circumstances and to discredit all the suggestions that you will be at each other’s throats … that never happened.”

He said some of the estate would be transferred to trusts and continue to look after the family long after from now.

African News Agency

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