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He is Africa's most famous man, the subject of countless biographies and TV documentaries, his every move now scrutinised more closely than ever. But nobody, it seems, has any idea how rich Nelson Mandela is, or where his money came from.
Newspaper cuttings about the issue are remarkably scarce. Such is Mandela's quasi-religious status that questions on the subject are almost taboo.One local journalist, who did not wish to be named, said: "Most South Africans have not wanted to ask. It's a thing that people have looked away from. I know Mandela never had a hard time asking for money. He was known as the African National Congress's greatest fundraiser."
But Mandela also showed a laudable aversion to greed. He cut his presidential salary when he came to power in 1994, and handed over a further third of it as a regular donation to a children's fund. His homes in Johannesburg and his ancestral village of Qunu are grand by local standards but hardly palatial.
Last year it emerged that in 2005 Mandela gave Jacob Zuma, the current South African president, a cheque for 1m rand, then worth about £80,000. This followed an earlier gift of 2m rand. It is unlikely to have been the only time he bailed out a struggling comrade.
George Bizos, Mandela's longtime friend and lawyer, said: "If anyone suggests he's a multi-millionaire, they're wrong. He's not a rich man. He has a couple of trusts for his children and grandchildren. His earnings are technically nil, other than the goodwill of people inside and outside South Africa who helped with the education of the children. He has always insisted that money donated should be used for building schools and hospitals."
This question becomes pertinent on the heels of his children haven launched a court case against several business associates of the former president in a dispute over the control of two companies and especially because they anticipate his near exit. They want their piece of the action sorted on time huh!?
The children are reportedly saying that lawyers George Bizos and Bally Chuene, and businessman Tokyo Sexwale, have no right to remain as directors of companies whose main purpose was to channel funds from the sale of 94-year-old Nelson Mandela's handprints.The newspaper also quoted Bizos as saying the Mandela daughters are 'trying to get their hands on the money', estimated to be more than £1.1million.
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| Nelson Mandela |
Former South –African president Nelson Mandela who is being treated for Pneumonia was visited by members of his family on Monday after doctors had reported an improvement in his condition over the weekend.
A statement from South Africa’s presidency said there was “no significant change” in the condition of the 94-year-old former president, who has been in hospital since late Wednesday suffering from a recurrence of a lung infection.
“Former President Mandela is still in hospital where he is receiving treatment … He spent part of Family Day today with some members of his family,” the statement from President Jacob Zuma’s office said
In South Africa, Easter Monday is a public holiday celebrated as Family Day.In their previous bulletin late on Sunday, the medical team treating Mandela said he had a “restful day” and had shown further improvement after a procedure to drain excess fluid from around his lungs. Doctors had already said he was breathing without difficulty.Mandela’s latest treatment is his third visit to hospital in four months, generating worldwide concern over the health of the revered statesman and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who became South Africa’s first black president in 1994.
Nelson Mandela remains in hospital where he is receiving treatment for a recurrence of pneumonia.
The former South African president was admitted to a hospital in the capital, Pretoria, near midnight on Wednesday.
Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said there had been no updates on the 94-year-old since an official statement on Saturday on his condition.That reported the anti-apartheid leader was breathing without difficulty after having a procedure to clear fluid in his lung area.
It was his third trip to hospital since December, when he was treated for a lung infection and had a procedure to remove gallstones.Earlier in March, he spent a night in a hospital for what officials said was a scheduled medical test.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela has been admitted to hospital with a recurrence of a lung infection, the government said today.
A statement said the 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader was admitted shortly before midnight. It gave no further details other than to say he was receiving the "best possible expert medical treatment and comfort".Mandela was admitted briefly to hospital earlier this month for a check up.However, he spent nearly three weeks in hospital in December with a lung infection and after surgery to remove gallstones.It was his longest stay in hospital since his release from prison in 1990 after serving 27 years for conspiring to overthrow the white-minority apartheid government.
