A South African court has dismissed an appeal from the nation's heritage body that sought to prevent the sale and export of various artifacts belonging to Nelson Mandela, a prominent figure in the anti-apartheid movement.
The court's decision allows for the sale of 70 personal items, including a cell key from Robben Island, where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison, a pair of Aviator sunglasses, and one of his characteristic floral shirts. These items are being prepared for auction in the United States.
The collection belongs to Makaziwe Mandela, Mandela's eldest daughter, along with Christo Brand, a former warden at Robben Island.
Authorities argued that the items, being part of the country's heritage, should be legally protected from export. However, the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) found out about the proposed sale through a British newspaper in late 2021, speculating that the key could fetch over £1 million ($1.35 million).
Following this discovery, SAHRA reached out to the US auction house, Guernsey, urging the suspension of the auction and the return of the items to South Africa.
Among the other artifacts included in the auction lot are a signed copy of the 1996 South African Constitution, a charcoal drawing by Mandela, an ID card, a tennis racquet used during his imprisonment, and gifts from global leaders, including former US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.
To utilize the resulting funds, Makaziwe intends to establish a memorial garden at her father's grave located in Qunu, Eastern Cape.
In their ruling, the court emphasized that SAHRA's interpretation of which items constituted heritage objects was excessively broad. Furthermore, while Makaziwe and Brand substantiated their claims that the objects were not heritage artifacts, SAHRA failed to adequately justify its view.
It remains to be seen whether the authorities will pursue alternative legal measures to block the sale. The matter has sparked a debate among supporters who believe items linked to Mandela should be preserved in South Africa for posterity, versus others who advocate for the Mandela family's rights to decide the fate of the items.
Nelson Mandela passed away in 2013 at the age of 95, having led the African National Congress in its fight against apartheid, and was released from prison in 1990. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and served as South Africa's first democratically elected president from 1994.
