Graça in dignified exit from Mandela's estate

Graça Machel has opted for a dignified exit from Nelson Mandela's financial affairs by waiving half of what she was entitled to.

Machel and Mandela were married in community of property on Madiba's 80th birthday in 1998.

Madiba's will, with an estate provisionally estimated at R46-million, was publicly read out in February by Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke.

At the time, Moseneke said Machel had three months to decide whether she would waive her right to half of the estate.

Machel, who is still in mourning, was unable to comment on the matter.

Her attorney, Bally Chuene, confirmed that she had waived her right to 50% of the estate.

She retains ownership of four properties in Mozambique, the country of her birth. One of the properties, in Maputo, was built by her and Mandela.

A second property was given to her by the Mozambican government as the widow of former Mozambican president Samora Machel.

The other two properties are family-owned. One belongs to the Machels' Mozambican stepchildren and the other to a family trust.

Madiba left his money mainly to his family, schools, the university he attended and his staff, including long-time personal assistant Zelda la Grange.

He died in Johannesburg on December 5 at the age of 95.