A nice little earner

FOREIGN DONORS WHO have given generously to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund have been startled to receive appeals to give to a new Nelson Mandela Foundation. Although the new foundation boasts of having “an independent Board of Trustees” the 22 trustees include an overwhelming majority of leading ANC personalities — names include Jakes Gerwel, Cyril Ramaphosa, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Frene Ginwala, Ahmed Kathrada, Mac Maharaj, Barbara Masekela, Joel Netshitenzhe, Tokyo Sexwale, Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka, Mendi Msimang, Lindi Sisulu, Ntatho Motlane, Mamphela Ramphele, Themba Sangoni, Maki Mandela, Graca Machel, Franklin Sonn, Irene Menell, Chris Liebenberg and Fink Haysom.

The foundation exists to provide “appropriate infrastructure, office facilities and other support for the work of the Founder”. Immediately what this means is shifting onto the foundation’s payroll the staff previously employed by the President’s Office and the domestic staff at Mandela’s Johannesburg home — on the grounds that “meetings are often conducted and functions held there”. That is the only thing that’s definite: thereafter a chief executive officer “will oversee a planning process aimed at fleshing out the Vision and Objectives of the Foundation”.

There has also been a general pursing of lips at clauses in the trust deed which not only specifically guarantee the (generally well-heeled) trustees that they will be paid expenses but that they will also be paid extra for services rendered to the trust. “In the medium term”, the foundation announces, it plans to “become one of the world’s foremost foundations.”