A South African court has dismissed an appeal by the country's heritage body to stop the sale and export of various artefacts connected to anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.
The 70 personal items include a cell key from Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of the 27 years he was locked up, a pair of Aviator sunglasses and one of his signature floral shirts. They were due to be exported to the US for auction.
The objects belong to his eldest daughter, Makaziwe Mandela and Christo Brand, a Robben Island warden during Mandela's incarceration.
In an attempt to prevent their sale, authorities claimed they were part of the country's heritage and therefore legally protected from export.
The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) first learned of the potential sale from a British newspaper article in late 2021, which mentioned the key could fetch more than £1m ($1.35m).
SAHRA wrote to the US auction house, Guernsey, asking it to suspend the auction and return the assets to South Africa.
Other items in the auction include a signed copy of the 1996 South African Constitution, a charcoal drawing by Mandela, a Robben Island ID card, a tennis racquet he used, and gifts from global leaders including Barack and Michelle Obama.
Mandela's daughter aims to use the sale proceeds to establish a memorial garden at his grave in Qunu, Eastern Cape province.
The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that SAHRA's interpretation of the National Heritage Resources Act was overly broad and did not provide adequate justification for blocking the sale. It remains unclear whether authorities will pursue further legal avenues to prevent the auction.
Supporters of the government argue that Mandela-related items should remain in South Africa for future generations, while others believe the family has the right to decide the fate of these artifacts.
Nelson Mandela passed away in 2013 at the age of 95, having led the struggle against apartheid and becoming South Africa's first democratically elected president in 1994.
