The planned auction of numerous artifacts belonging to Nelson Mandela has been suspended following a court application to halt it completely, as announced by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) on Tuesday. The online auction, organized by New York-based Guernsey's auction house in collaboration with Dr Makaziwe Mandela, the eldest daughter of the late anti-apartheid icon and South Africa's first democratically elected president, was scheduled for February 24.
This auction had faced substantial public and governmental criticism, which prompted SAHRA to support a court application to appeal a previous judgment that had given the auction the green light. The South African government, in particular, expressed concerns regarding the sale of these historical artifacts.
The items listed for auction included several possessions with great sentimental value. Mandela's iconic Ray-Ban sunglasses, his well-known 'Madiba' shirts, personal letters penned during his time in prison, and a blanket gifted to him by former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle were among the significant items. Additionally, a champagne cooler presented by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and even Mandela's identification document following his release from prison in 1993 were up for bidding, starting at $24,000.
Guernsey's auction house had described the planned auction as 'nothing short of remarkable' on its website. The auction's proceeds aimed to contribute to the creation of the Mandela Memorial Garden in Qunu, the village where Mandela was laid to rest.
However, SAHRA, upon engaging with Dr. Mandela and the auction house, managed to convince Guernsey's to suspend the auction temporarily. The exact reasons for the suspension were not disclosed in the statement provided on Guernsey's website.
SAHRA, in its statement, welcomed the decision by Guernsey's Auction House to suspend the auction, emphasizing the importance of preserving these historical artifacts. The agency argues that these items hold significant cultural heritage value for South Africa and should be conserved for future generations, rather than being sold to the highest bidder.
The fate of the auction now awaits the outcome of SAHRA's application for leave to appeal the North Gauteng High Court's decision to allow the auction to proceed. The court had dismissed SAHRA's interdict, which was filed in December of last year, in an attempt to prevent the auction from happening.
With public and governmental criticism echoing loud and clear, the suspension of the Mandela artifact auction serves as a temporary reprieve for those who believe that these items should remain within South Africa's cultural heritage. As the legal battle continues, the debate over the rightful custody and preservation of Mandela's possessions persists, leaving future generations to ponder the legacy of one of the world's greatest icons in the fight against apartheid.
