A South African court has rejected a bid by the country’s heritage authority to halt the sale and export of items linked to Nelson Mandela, the nation’s former president and anti-apartheid icon. The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) lacked the legal grounds to block the sale of around 70 items, which were set to be auctioned in the United States.
The items, which include personal belongings such as a cell key from Robben Island, a pair of sunglasses, and a floral shirt, belong to Mandela’s eldest daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, and Christo Brand, a former Robben Island prison warden who later became close to Mandela. Other items listed for sale include a signed copy of South Africa’s 1996 Constitution, a tennis racquet used by Mandela while imprisoned, and gifts from world leaders, including former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.
SAHRA had argued that the items were part of South Africa’s national heritage and should not be sold or taken out of the country. However, the court ruled that the agency had interpreted the heritage law too broadly, failing to provide clear reasons why the items should be classified as protected heritage objects. The owners, on the other hand, had provided detailed explanations for why the items were not protected.
Makaziwe Mandela welcomed the ruling, stating that SAHRA had wrongly assumed it understood her father’s wishes better than his family. She emphasized that the family was committed to preserving Mandela’s legacy, but no final decision has been made on whether the items will now be sold. The proceeds from the sale were originally intended to fund a memorial garden at Mandela’s grave in Qunu, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
The court’s decision has significant implications for the preservation of South Africa’s cultural heritage. Nelson Mandela, who died in 2013 at the age of 95, was a pivotal figure in the country’s struggle against apartheid, and his legacy continues to be celebrated globally. As a former president, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and anti-apartheid activist, his personal belongings and memorabilia hold considerable historical and cultural value.
It remains unclear whether the government will take further legal steps to block the sale. Officials from the department of sport, arts and culture have not yet commented on the matter. As the case highlights the complexities of preserving cultural heritage, it is likely to spark further debate about the role of heritage authorities in protecting national treasures.
