A year after his death and Nelson Mandela’s wish to pay for children to be taught at four schools has yet to come true – seemingly because of challenges to his will.
The principals of Healdtown Comprehensive, Clarkebury Senior Secondary, Orlando West High and Qunu Junior Secondary schools confirmed this week they had not yet received the R100000 left to them by Mandela.
Mandela attended Clarkebury and matriculated in 1938 from Healdtown, both in the Eastern Cape.
He said in his will that he left the money to Qunu Junior Secondary because he was “concerned about the educational needs of the children” there.
He also gave money to Orlando West High as he lived in the area and because of the historic role the pupils and teachers played “in the struggle for the liberation of South Africa”.
But it seems that because Mandela’s will has been contested – particularly by his ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who is challenging the ownership of the house in Qunu, where Mandela’s body was laid to rest – the payments have been delayed.
Orlando West High principal Joseph Malindi said he had written to George Bizos, one of the executors of the will, to ask when they could expect the money.
“He said he would come to us once everything had been transferred to the executor.
“I think if the Qunu house is part of the will…then the issue of Madikizela-Mandela has to be settled before everything is transferred.”
Healdtown principal Mzingisi Douw said he had not heard from the executors of the will since February, when he was invited to the reading of Mandela’s will in Johannesburg.
“Maybe it’s because Winnie is challenging the will,” said Douw.
Ayanda Matshayana, principal at Clarkebury, shared a similar sentiment.
He said he believed the money had not been handed over because the will still had to be settled, which he believed would not happen “very soon”.
Metja Ledwaba, one of two men appointed by the executors to handle the day-to-day administration of the will, said: “The bequests that were made by the late Mr Mandela to various educational institutions have not as yet been paid to them.
“The same is the case with all other bequests.”
He said he was unable to say when the money would be paid.
Challenge to will holds up Madiba’s wishes
The principals of Healdtown Comprehensive, Clarkebury Senior Secondary, Orlando West High and Qunu Junior Secondary schools confirmed this week they had not yet received the R100000 left to them by Mandela.
Mandela attended Clarkebury and matriculated in 1938 from Healdtown, both in the Eastern Cape.
He said in his will that he left the money to Qunu Junior Secondary because he was “concerned about the educational needs of the children” there.
He also gave money to Orlando West High as he lived in the area and because of the historic role the pupils and teachers played “in the struggle for the liberation of South Africa”.
But it seems that because Mandela’s will has been contested – particularly by his ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who is challenging the ownership of the house in Qunu, where Mandela’s body was laid to rest – the payments have been delayed.
Orlando West High principal Joseph Malindi said he had written to George Bizos, one of the executors of the will, to ask when they could expect the money.
“He said he would come to us once everything had been transferred to the executor.
“I think if the Qunu house is part of the will…then the issue of Madikizela-Mandela has to be settled before everything is transferred.”
Healdtown principal Mzingisi Douw said he had not heard from the executors of the will since February, when he was invited to the reading of Mandela’s will in Johannesburg.
“Maybe it’s because Winnie is challenging the will,” said Douw.
Ayanda Matshayana, principal at Clarkebury, shared a similar sentiment.
He said he believed the money had not been handed over because the will still had to be settled, which he believed would not happen “very soon”.
Metja Ledwaba, one of two men appointed by the executors to handle the day-to-day administration of the will, said: “The bequests that were made by the late Mr Mandela to various educational institutions have not as yet been paid to them.
“The same is the case with all other bequests.”
He said he was unable to say when the money would be paid.
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