Nelson Mandela is set to have nearly a hundred of his personal belongings on sale in an online auction this upcoming February after a lengthy two-year court battle between his daughter, the proponent of the sale, and the South African government.
Contentions Surrounding the Mandela Auction
The auction was initially announced in 2021, which the South African government objected to shortly after. Specifically, it wanted to shut down the sale of a key to Mandela's Robben Island prison cell, as reported by Politico.
According to Guernsey's release, the New York-based auction house in charge of the sale, all proceeds earned will be used to fund the construction of a graveside memorial garden dedicated to him.
Spearheaded by the South African Heritage Resources Agency, a court case was launched where it argued that around 70 artifacts, that are going to be part of the would-be sale, are actually "heritage objects," and, as such, are protected by the country's Heritage Act from export.
Because of this, an initial sale planned last 2022 was called off. That said, in December 2023, a Pretoria high court comprising a three-judge panel ruled in favor of Makaziwe Mandela, the former president's daughter.
The court said that the agency dubbing the items as "heritage objects" was simply "overboard," and consequently cleared the sale to go through next month.
About the Upcoming Online Mandela Sale
Mandela passed away in 2013 at the age of 95, 23 years following his prison release and 19 years since he was first elected as South Africa's president. Additionally, Mandela is the eminent symbol of his country's anti-apartheid movement, as he dedicated the majority of his life to the cause.
The online auction will be preceded by a pre-sale viewing to be held at the Jazz at Lincoln Center and will include artifacts such as Mandela's official Identification Book, a handful of his iconic "Madiba" shirts, and even a pair of his hearing aids.
Collectively, the lots are estimated to fetch between $2 million to $3 million.
When asked for the core message she's trying to impart with the auction, Dr. Makaziwe told the New York Times: "It is my wish, that before I close my eyes on nature, I will honor my father with a memorial garden. That's what my father would want."
