The Qunu home of the late president and world icon Nelson Mandela has been secretly sold to an international property tycoon from Russia.
The Daily Dispatch can reveal that the house was sold for R15-million and that the information has been suppressed by those close to the latest developments in the Mandela household.
The newspaper has been reliably told that Russian mogul Velike Zevodka, 71, who lists among his assets one of the world’s most expensive yachts, Meteish, worth about R600-million, bought the house and has given the family a few weeks to vacate the property.
Zevodka’s South African representative, Jean Ntonic, reacted with surprise when contacted by the Dispatch investigative team: “I don’t know how you knew about this, but there was a reason to keep it from the prying eyes of you hacks. But we can confirm that Mr Zevodka has, among other things, acquired the paintings of the late Mr Mandela.
“Buying this house was a blessing to Velike, as he always wanted to spend time with Nelson Mandela over a cup of tea, but unfortunately he died before he could meet him in person,” said Ntonic.
She refused to divulge who sold the house to the controversial tycoon, who has interests in the Russian nuclear industry, but hinted that some of the money will support a Russian farmer to manage Mandela’s Nguni herd.
“The estate agent we were dealing with told us that because of the fights in the family, a decision was taken to sell and money will be shared among charities,” she said.
Attempts to obtain comment from the Mandela family were not successful at the time of going to print. — Iyanag@dispatch.co.za
Russian tycoon snaps up Qunu home
The Daily Dispatch can reveal that the house was sold for R15-million and that the information has been suppressed by those close to the latest developments in the Mandela household.
The newspaper has been reliably told that Russian mogul Velike Zevodka, 71, who lists among his assets one of the world’s most expensive yachts, Meteish, worth about R600-million, bought the house and has given the family a few weeks to vacate the property.
Zevodka’s South African representative, Jean Ntonic, reacted with surprise when contacted by the Dispatch investigative team: “I don’t know how you knew about this, but there was a reason to keep it from the prying eyes of you hacks. But we can confirm that Mr Zevodka has, among other things, acquired the paintings of the late Mr Mandela.
“Buying this house was a blessing to Velike, as he always wanted to spend time with Nelson Mandela over a cup of tea, but unfortunately he died before he could meet him in person,” said Ntonic.
She refused to divulge who sold the house to the controversial tycoon, who has interests in the Russian nuclear industry, but hinted that some of the money will support a Russian farmer to manage Mandela’s Nguni herd.
“The estate agent we were dealing with told us that because of the fights in the family, a decision was taken to sell and money will be shared among charities,” she said.
Attempts to obtain comment from the Mandela family were not successful at the time of going to print. — Iyanag@dispatch.co.za
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