4 Feb 2014

Mandela's will revealed

9:04 am on 4 February 2014

Former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa left an estate provisionally valued at 46 million rand ($4.13 million).

Nelson Mandela estate executivrs Dikgang Moseneke (left) and George Bizos.

Nelson Mandela estate executivrs Dikgang Moseneke (left) and George Bizos. Photo: AFP

The executors of his will said on Monday the Mandela family trust will receive $US130,000, plus royalties. Others to benefit include the African National Congress, personal staff and several schools.

Mr Mandela's third wife, Graca Machel, was likely to waive her claims to the estate, the executors said, although she is entitled to half of it.

Mr Mandela died on 5 December, aged 95. He left an estate that includes a house in Johannesburg, a modest dwelling in his rural Eastern Cape home province and royalties from book sales, including his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom.

Executor Justice Dikgang Moseneke said the 46 million rand was based on "rough and ready estimates" and the final amount could be very different.

"We are yet to get down to the business of finding the asset, listing them and valuing them and accurately reflecting them. We have a duty to file a provisional inventory."

The family trust will receive 1.5 million rand, plus royalties.

Schools the former president attended are due to receive 100,000 rand each, as are Wits and Fort Hare Universities, for bursaries and scholarships.

The house in Houghton, Johannesburg where Mr Mandela died will be used by the family of his deceased son Makgatho.

"It is my wish that it should also serve as a place of gathering of the Mandela family in order to maintain its unity long after my death," the former statesman wrote.

Mr Moseneke said there was a period of 90 days in which the will can be contested.

The will was first written in 2004 and last amended in 2008.