THE education institutions to which Nelson Mandela bequeathed money from his estate have not received it nine months after the reading of his will.

During the reading of the late statesman's will in February, it emerged that he had left R100000 each to six education institutions.

"I bequeath to the following schools and institutions of learning which I have attended in my lifetime, the following amounts which are to be used by the governing body/appropriate authority of the institution for scholarship and bursaries," reads the will.

Mandela went to school at Clarkebury Senior Secondary in Ngcobo and later Healdtown Comprehensive School in Fort Beaufort, both in Eastern Cape.

He enrolled at the University of Fort Hare for a BA degree which he completed at Unisa. He also studied at Wits University for an LLB degree but left the institution without completing his studies.

In his will Mandela said he was concerned about the educational needs of pupils in his village of Qunu and therefore also left Qunu Secondary School money to be used for scholarships and bursaries.

The late statesman and his former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela lived in Orlando West in Soweto, and Mandela also left Orlando West High School money that he said should be used for scholarships and bursaries.

However, Sowetan has established from four of the education institutions that they had not received the R100000.

Spokeswoman for Wits Shirona Patel told Sowetan the university had not received the funds.

"We assume this is because the estate is probably still in the process of being wound up but you would have to check this fact," she said.

Gauteng education department spokeswoman Phumla Sekhonyane, speaking on behalf of Orlando West High School, said the school had not received the money.

Principal of Clarkebury Senior Secondary School Ayanda Matshayane also said that the school had not received the money.

Spokeswoman for Fort Hare University Zintle Filtane also confirmed that the institution had not received the money.

One of the lawyers appointed to assist the executors of Mandela's estate, Metja Ledwaba, told Sowetan that the bequests to various educational institutions had not been paid as yet.

"The same is the case with all other bequests in terms of the will of the late Mr Mandela.

"The administration of the estate of the late Mr Mandela is still under way and has not been finalised to enable payment of the beneficiaries in the will," he said.

Ledwaba could not say when the beneficiaries were likely to receive the money as this will depend on the progress in the finalisation of the administration of the estate.

Sowetan could not reach Qunu Secondary School and Healdtown Comprehensive School.

macupeb@sowetan.co.za

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