Nelson Mandela: Johannesburg home deteriorates into ghost house. All you should know about it

Anti-Apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela's Johannesburg house on 12th Avenue remains neglected and stands deserted and overgrown. It is also marred by family disputes. Madiba's grandchildren left their ancestral home after a conflict erupted between them and the Nelson Mandela Trust, though Mandela's will allows them to live there rent-free. But another house, separated by just a few blocks on 13th Avenue, is now a luxurious boutique hotel named Sanctuary Madiba which pays homage to his life through themed rooms, including one modeled after his Robben Island cell.

Deserted home turns into ghost house

It may look ironical, but the fact remains that the once-elegant Houghton home which hosted world leaders while the former president was alive, has since been abandoned and is now marred by overgrown lawns and rubbish. According to the 'TimesLive', the electric gate in the home is seemingly broken and portions of the roof fascia are missing or collapsing. Besides, the tennis court is crumbling and the tiled roof of one of the outbuildings is sagging.

Nelson Mandela's grandchildren vacate home

The house was occupied by his grandchildren Ndaba, Mbuso, and Andile shortly after Mandela’s death. However after a controversy erupted with the Nelson Mandela Trust, they moved out in 2020. Those who moved out of the house were the sons of the late Makgatho Mandela who was the late president’s son by his first wife, Evelyn.

Talking to 'TimesLive', Ndaba Mandela alleged the family moved out after the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Family Trust stopped paying the utility bills in 2020.

Dispute with Nelson Mandela Family Trust

Madiba's grandson accused former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Family Trust and advocate Wim Trengove, of not paying the utility bills to kick him and his siblings out because many people want to buy the house.

On the other hand, Moseneke said that the trust stopped paying the bills because they increased from about R15,000 per month to about R50,000 per month without any explanation. He also said that the trust has paid R1.4 million in utility bills since 2017. Advocate Wim Trengove claimed that the trust resumed payment, and paid all the arrears when the bills came down to their former level.

FAQs:

Why did Nelson Mandela's grandchildren vacate their ancestral home?
Nelson Mandela's grandchildren Ndaba, Mbuso, and Andile vacated the home after a controversy erupted with the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Family Trust and it stopped paying the utility bills in 2020.

Why Nelson Mandela's home in Johannesburg is deserted?
Nelson Mandela's Johannesburg house on 12th Avenue remains neglected and stands deserted and overgrown. It is also marred by family disputes. Madiba's grandchildren left their ancestral home after a conflict erupted between them and the Nelson Mandela Trust, though Mandela's will allows them to live there rent-free.