South Africa Appeals to Highest Court to Block US Auction of Nelson Mandela's Belongings
2 sources across 2 countries · Argentina · Brazil
Who reported this
- Clarin
- UOL
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- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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The South African government has appealed to the country's highest court to prevent the auction of objects belonging to Nelson Mandela in the United States. The government argues that the items are part of the national heritage and that their export without authorization is illegal. The legal battle involves 29 objects, including the former president's identity card, clothing, writings, and gifts from U.S. presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
The auction is being organized by Guernsey's, a New York based auction house, in collaboration with Makaziwe Mandela, one of Nelson Mandela's daughters. She authorized the sale to fund the construction of a memorial garden near her father's grave in Qunu. The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and the Ministry of Culture have requested that the Constitutional Court declare the sale and export of these pieces illegal.
This dispute has spanned four years. The auction was first announced in 2021 and suspended in 2022. It was announced again in 2024 before being suspended once more. In January, the Supreme Court of Appeal rejected objections from SAHRA, stating that the agency needed to demonstrate the specific heritage value of each object.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- The report focused concisely on the government's appeal and the claim that the items are national heritage.
- Centre-right
- The report provided extensive detail on the legal timeline, the specific items involved, and the daughter's motivation for the sale.
Sources
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