Family declines govt offer to renovate Madiba’s mansion

Former president Nelson Mandela’s family has declined an offer from the Gauteng government to use public funds to renovate his Johannesburg home.

This comes after concerns from the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation (JHF) that the use of public funds for the renovation of the private Houghton home could create the wrong precedent.

JHF spokesperson David Fleminger said that he and other members of the foundation were invited to a meeting by an organisation that served as an intermediary between the JHF and the Mandela family on Monday.

Renovations to the Mandela house were discussed and it emerged that the Mandela family would rather get private donors to renovate the house.

“We are encouraged by the latest development and we hope that it all works out for the betterment of the Mandela legacy and ordinary South Africans,” he said.

According to Fleminger, the JHF was also informed that the Mandela family had resolved ownership issues over the house.

There had been a dispute among family members concerning who had rights to the house.

“This is what we have been told. The family was not at the meeting,” Fleminger said.

It was not clear what would become of the Mandela house after it was renovated. Fleminger said the JHF had been informed that the public would have access to it.

“There are indications it might not be a private house after it is renovated,” he said.

It was not clear which part of the fragmented Mandela family were responsible for these negotiations.

The Mandela house in Houghton has been abandoned for a number of years and residents in the affluent area have complained that its condition lowers the value of their houses.

The property also has unpaid water and electricity bills and some portions of the house seem to be falling apart. Despite this, the house is quite popular with tourists and those who still revere the former statesman.

JHF said the Mandela house in Houghton has historic, market and business value, and that the public should benefit if it is renovated with public funds.