South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of Makaziwe Mandela, daughter of Nelson Mandela, allowing her to sell and export 70 personal belongings of her father.
The court rejected an earlier attempt by the country’s National Heritage Agency to stop the auction of properties once owned by the late anti-apartheid icon.
The collection includes highly symbolic artefacts such as a Robben Island cell key, Mandela’s aviator sunglasses, a floral shirt, a signed copy of the 1996 Constitution, a charcoal drawing, his identity card, a tennis racquet used during his imprisonment, and gifts from world leaders. The items were initially earmarked for auction in the United States.
In its ruling, the court argued that while Makaziwe Mandela and former Robben Island warden Christo Brand offered clear explanations as to why the belongings did not qualify as heritage items, the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) failed to adequately justify its contrary position.
The Court also indicated that the Agency had applied an excessively broad interpretation of the National Heritage Resources Act in trying to classify the items as protected heritage objects.
Makaziwe Mandela says the proceeds from the sale will be used to build a memorial garden at Mandela’s burial site in Qunu, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.
