Mpho Raborife, News24

Advocate George Bizos announces the distribution of all cash bequests made in terms of Nelson Mandela's will (Mpho Raborife, News24)

Advocate George Bizos announces the distribution of all cash bequests made in terms of Nelson Mandela's will (Mpho Raborife, News24)


Johannesburg - A total of R22 million of former president and struggle icon Nelson Mandela's estate has been distributed to beneficiaries he had listed in his will.

Among the list of 40 beneficiaries were his long-time driver, three members of his staff at his private home, as well as all the high schools and universities he attended while growing up.

At the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, north of Johannesburg on Friday morning, retired Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke and advocate George Bizos said they had acted in accordance with what Mandela had requested.

"We have come to the end of our task, we have done as he asked. The will is insolvent," Moseneke told reporters, Mandela's family as well as the recipients who were present.

No fights in the family

He emphasised that the process of identifying and collating all of Mandela's local and offshore assets and liabilities had been done in a public and transparent manner.

"The accounts have been lying for inspection for the past 21 days. It was a very public process."

Nine out of the forty recipients were present at the ceremony and received cash cheques from the executors' attorney Metja Ledwaba. Others, who were not present, had requested to have the monies transferred to them electronically.

Moseneke and Bizos would meet with the family in private later on Friday.

He insisted that despite media reports of infighting within the Mandela family over the struggle icon's estate, there had been no bad blood.

"Despite all the speculations... there was no fights within the family. The family was united, they gave us support. To me personally, I received nothing but support."

Most of Mandela's assets would be transferred to trusts which would look after the family, he said.



Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/mandela-shares-r22m-with-his-former-employees-schools-20160527