When Nelson Mandela and Mum Winnie Madikizela-Mandela separated in 1992, Madiba left Soweto and relied on the hospitality of friends until an alternative home for him could be found. Before the end of that year a house at number 4 13th Avenue Houghton had been secured, and Madiba moved in with some of his grandchildren and a housekeeper/chef, Ms Xoliswa Ndoyiya. This was to be his primary home until 1998, when he and Mum Graça Machel got married and together moved into another house one block away in 12th Avenue. The latter is where Madiba lived until he passed away in 2013.
The Sanctuary Mandela Hotel.
(Image: Sanctury Mandela Hotel)The 13th Avenue property stood empty for the best part of a year, but when Madiba established the Nelson Mandela Foundation as his post-presidential office in 1999 this property became the Foundation’s offices (including Madiba’s personal work office). However, the organisation grew quickly, and in 2002 the Foundation and Madiba occupied new offices at 107 Central Street close by. What to do with the 13th Avenue property preoccupied Madiba and the Foundation for some years, but ultimately the Foundation bought the property and refurbished it as a multi-purpose boutique public facility. Today it is a self-sustaining historic site, under the management of business partners Motsamayi, and with a restaurant kitchen overseen by Ms Ndoyiya.
In his will, Madiba left the 12th Avenue property to a family trust and named three of his grandsons to whom he granted the right to use the property as a home. The Nelson Mandela Foundation has no responsibility in relation to the 12th Avenue property and no legal stake in it.
Visit Sanctuary Mandela here.