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.
Guernsey’s, which was auctioning off some major Nelson Mandela items, including the tennis racket he used while in prison on Robben Island, vaguely says its auction is being canceled due to developments in South Africa. pic.twitter.com/2KkvtNTiu4
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 30, 2024
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.
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