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Auction of Mandela’s personal items suspended

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Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa has welcomed the decision by a US action house to suspend the auction of Nelson Mandela memorabilia.

 

Earlier this month, the former president’s daughter Makaziwe Mandela decided to place 100 items including shirts, hearing aids, walking sticks and more on auction in New York. The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) confirmed that this auction was suspended following the agency’s engagement with Guernsey’s Auction House and Dr Makaziwe Mandela.

 

The auction was scheduled for 22 February.

 

 

Kodwa said that blocking the sale was necessary, as Madiba is integral to the country’s heritage: “This development allows the ongoing legal proceedings on the matter to be finalised. SAHRA, with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and Robben Island Museum, will continue to appeal the High Court judgement relating to the unpermitted export for exhibition or sale on auction of items associated with former President Nelson Mandela,” says Kodwa.

 

The incident has left dozens of South Africans aggrieved, when news came to light. Last month marked the 10th anniversary of Mandela’s death.

 

 

“I reiterate the importance of preserving and protecting the legacy of former President Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s rich cultural heritage. Our cultural heritage defines who we are and maintains the knowledge and memory of where we come from as a nation,” concluded Kodwa.

 

READ MORE: Weird items sold at auctions in South Africa

 

Lizell Persens
Lizell Persens
Lizell is a Cape Town-based news anchor, reporter and transcriptionist. She has been a journalist for the past 10 years, and started her career as a TV producer. The avid reader enjoys writing poems, fast cars, music, travelling, and exploring new food.

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