Madiba’s will to be read out publicly

THE contents of former president Nelson Mandela’s last will and testament, as well as the management of his estate, are to be made public today.

Mandela’s final wishes will be read at a media briefing at the offices of the foundation bearing his name in Houghton, Johannesburg.

Details of the briefing were released yesterday through the office of Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, who is expected to preside over the proceedings at midday.

The three executors are Moseneke, Advocate George Bizos and Eastern Cape Judge President Themba Sangoni.

Moseneke first met Madiba on Robben Island in 1963 and the two remained close friends.

Bizos was a friend and lawyer, while Sangoni helped Mandela with legal matters pertaining to the Eastern Cape where he was born.

The three men were named executors in December last year.

Mandela spent the last months of his life a spectator to continuous and often embarrassing public spats between his children, grandchildren and the chosen guardians of his estate.

Sangoni and Bizos were embroiled in an ugly spat with Mandela’s daughters Makaziwe Mandela and Zenani Dlamini over the directorships of his companies, worth an estimated R15-million.

Also, reports recently surfaced of Mandela’s widow, Graca Machel, being sidelined by some family members following Mandela’s death.