Johannesburg — The Mandela family have decided to auction off the identity book and some other valuable items belonging to the late, great Nelson Mandela, his daughter, Makaziwe confirmed.
This follows a two-year battle against the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), who went to court to try and block the sale of the items, describing them as heritage objects. Under the country’s Heritage Act, such items cannot be removed from the country without a permit, EWN reported.
The ID book, which he received in 1993 after his release from prison, is among 69 other items set to be sold in February.
Nelson Mandela’s ID book is among the items to be auctioned by his daughter Makaziwe to raise funds for a Mandela Memorial Garden in Qunu, Eastern Cape. After a two-year legal battle and objections from the SA government, she won the right to do the auction. pic.twitter.com/Qrqwg0NwsF
— Geoffrey York (@geoffreyyork) January 17, 2024
Some of the other items up for sale include Mandela’s identity book from 1993, his personal drawings from prison, his walking stick, and his famous Madiba shirts are among the 69 items set for sale at an auction next month. The sale was initially set for 28 January 2022 before SAHRA took them to court, TimesLIVE reported.
New York-based auction company Guernsey’s has set the auction date for 22 February. The company said the money from the auction would be used to build a memorial garden at Mandela’s gravesite in Qunu.
“When considering historic figures whose lives inspired the global population, the name Nelson Mandela will forever stand out. To imagine actually owning an artefact touched by this great leader is almost unthinkable. Guernsey’s upcoming Nelson Mandela auction will be nothing short of remarkable. Nearly 100 treasured items will be presented at unreserved auction,” Guernsey’s stated.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
