Madiba estate executors meet over Winnie's Qunu bid

The executors of Nelson Mandela’s estate will on Thursday meet to discuss Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s request for control of his family home in Qunu.

Madikizela-Mandela made legal representation to the executors in a lawyer’s letter - written on Mandela’s birthday – in which she claimed rightful ownership of the homestead for herself and her daughters Zindzi and Zenani Mandela.

She followed it up with a second letter asking for urgency on the matter, claiming concern for starving cattle on the Eastern Cape property.

Madiba’s estate executors – Judge President Themba Sangoni, Deputy Judge President Dikgang Moseneke and lawyer George Bizos – will on Thursday meet to discuss Madikizela-Mandela’s bid for Qunu.

Madikizela-Mandela’s lawyer Mvuso Notyesi, who has said Madikizela-Mandela’s claim was "not an attack on his will but an assertion of customary and traditional rights", said they would await clarity from the executors.

Madikizela-Mandela, in her appeal, claims: “During 1989, when the late Mr Mandela was still in prison, Mrs Winnie Mandela sought and obtained a residential site in the Qunu Communal Land, from the Chiefs and King of the AbaThembu.

“And upon Mandela’s release from prison in 1990 the home became the house of Mr Nelson Mandela, Mrs Madikizela-Mandela and their children. Customarily, the property and the house became the house of Mrs Madikiizela as the second wife to the late Mr Nelson Mandela.”

Madikizela-Mandela argues that custom dictates that the property should go to her, the daughters she had with Mandela and their descendants. The couple was married for 38 years before their divorce which saw them reach an out-of-court settlement.

But Madikizela-Mandela’s request may be seen as being out of line with what Mandela wanted. She was not mentioned anywhere in his will.

The will clearly stated that the Qunu property was to become part of the NRM Family Trust for the benefit of “the Mandela family and my third wife and her two children” and that it be used to “preserve the unity of the Mandela family”.

Mandela has been buried at the Qunu homestead.

Winnie Mandela wants Qunu: Lawyers file claim

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's lawyers have filed papers at the high court in Mthatha, to lay a claim on her former husband’s home in Qunu. Madikizela-Mandela says the house belongs to her in terms of customary law. While Nelson Mandela's will says"The Qunu property should be used inorder to preserve the unity of the Mandela family".

Hundreds of dignitaries attended the funeral of Nelson Mandela

1.  Ninety five candles reflected the life of former President   
     Nelson Mandela 
2. President Jacob Zuma was seated with Mandela's ex-wife 
    Madikizela Mandela and Graca Machel 
3. Members of the S.African National Defence Force accompy the
    casket ofNelson Mandela
4. Ahmed Kathrada who was incarcerated at Robben Island with 
    Nelson Mandela 
5. U.S. talk show host and actress Oprah Winfrey
6. Chief Mandla Mandela grandson of Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela's funeral

The marquee where Nelson Mandela's funeral was held.

Nelson Mandela's daughter Dr. Makaziwe Mandela

President Jacob Zuma speaking at Mandela's funeral

Members of Nelson Mandela's family enter the funeral venue with President Jacob Zuma

The funeral of Nelson Mandela has taken place

The funeral of the first African president of South Africa Nelson Mandela Madiba has taken place.  Madiba wanted to be buried in his childhood home in Qunu. About 450 guest only were allowed at the burial. South African airforce fly past and last post were played during the burial.

A hand picked group of mourners started making their way to the burial site of former president Nelson Mandela.

Nandi Mandela

Nandi Mandela second eldest grand child pays tribute to Madiba on behalf of all Madiba's children and grand children.

Leaders from the African continent have paid tribute South Africa's first democratically elected president Nelson Mandela.

US talk show host

US talk show host Oprah Winfrey made it to the funeral in Qunu

The coffin of former president Nelson Mandela was borne on a gun carriage as it was transported to the venue for his state funeral in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.
The coffin was draped with a South African flag, and was taken along a dusty road lined by SA National Defence Force personnel.
Cannon were fired, accompanied by a military band and parade.

World figures arrive in Qunu for Mandela's funeral

Over 4000 guests are expected to attend the main service at Mandela  family home in Qunu.  Among the visitors are Her excellency Joyce Banda president of Malawi, Prince Charles, President Jakaya Kikwete  Tanzania and e Funeral will be held according to Xhosa tradition.  State funeral service starts at 8am until 10 am, doors opened at 5.am. Abathembu funeral ceremony will be from 10am until 12am. Final private service at graveside will only be attended by Mandela family. Desmond Tutu attends although he was not invited.There will be 21 gun salutes. Mandela is a chief, therefore he will be buried with dignity he deserves as a chief.

Mandela's friend gets ready for funeral

The journey home to Qunu

Zenani Mandela at the centre comforts Winnie Madikizela Mandela and Graca Machel at Mthatha Airport.

Nelson Mandela leaves Waterkloof to Qunu  - Good bye Madiba

Zindzi Mandela and her sister Zenani Dlamini Mandela  at Mthathe Airport.

Madiba's final journey to Qunu

ANC members have gathered at waterloof Air Force Base in Pretoria to bid fare to former president Nelson Mandela.  The remains of Nelson Mandela will be flown back to Qunu in the Eastern Cape where he will be rest on Sunday.  Mandela will be buried in Qunu in a funeral that will be attended by several heads of state, such as Presidents from Malawi, Tanzania, Lesotho's King Letsie III and UK's Prince Charles of Wales. 

Mandela's body lies in state

Mandela's body will lie in state for 3 days ahead of the funeral and will be burried on Sunday.  Thousands of people lined the streets on Wednesday as Nelson Mandela's funeral cortage proceeded through the streets of Pretoria.  Mandela's body will lie to the Union buildings where he was sworn in as the country's first democratically elected president almost 20 years ago.  The public will be able to view Mandela's body arrived in a glass sided back hearse however no cameras or cell phones are permitted.  Over 100 current and former heads of sate, kings, queens and celebrities arrived in South Africa to pay their respects of the global icon.  Nelson Mandela will be burried next to his children in Qunu in the Eastern Cape as he wished.

Nelson Mandela has died at the age of 95

Nelson Mandela has died at the age of 95 at his home in Johannesburg.  He was born in 1912. He was the son of the chief. He was named  Madiba by his clan.  In 1964 was sentenced to life in prison. He spent 18 years of his 27 years in prison in Robben Island.  He became the first  African president in 1994.  He stepped down as a president in 1999. He won Nobel Peace Prize with F.W. De Clerk in 1993. South Africans has gathered in Johannesburg and Soweto to mourn their former leader Nelson Mandela. He last appeared in public during the  world cup in 2010. Pope honors Mandela for forming new South Africa. Flags will be lowered to half mast across South Africa amd in some countries like Tanzania, France, India and USA. He will be buried in Qunu- his birth place on December 15. May his soul rest in eternal peace,

Mandela's cell in Robben Island.

In 1994 Nelson Mandela visited his South African Robben Island where he spent 18 of his 27 years in prison.