Former South African President Nelson Mandela left his $4.1 million estate to his family, staff, several schools and the African National Congress -- the nation's ruling political party of which he was a member -- according to a public reading of his will on Monday.
Many expected Mandela's surviving family members to quarrel over how the money was allotted after his wishes were made public, but South African Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, who read out the anti-apartheid hero's will, reportedly said nothing has been contested. The Nelson Mandela Foundation website published a memo that went along with the will, which we've embedded, below.
After Mandela's will was read to his family in the hours before the public announcement, Moseneke said they only asked for a few clarifications, according to Reuters.
The former president's third wife at the time he died, Graca Machel, is entitled to half his estate under South African marital law, though she could decide not to accept it. If she does, it's not clear what effect that would have on the will's implementation.
Mandela left his former home in Johannesburg, the capital of South Africa, to the children of his son Makgatho Mandela, who died in 2005. He also bequeathed $300,000 to each of his six children and some of his grandchildren, and smaller portions of his wealth went to members of his staff.
He gave $8,900 to schools he attended, and Mandela requested that the African National Congress receive any money he makes from book royalties or the licensing of his name and photograph. He wanted the money to go toward the party's teachings on reconciliation between South Africa's black and white communities.
Mandela was an anti-apartheid icon who became a worldwide symbol of freedom after he spent 27 years as a political prisoner before becoming the first black president of South Africa. When he died at the age of 95 last December, mourners held memorials all over the world.
Memo Related to the will of Nelson Mandela
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