Nelson Mandela auction: South Africa aims to stop sale due to dispute about heritage

The government of South Africa is trying to prevent a controversial sale of 70 personal items that belonged to Nelson Mandela, who fought against apartheid.

They have hearing aids, an ID card, presents from world leaders, and some of the clothes worn by the first democratic president, like his “Madiba” shirts.

Makaziwe Mandela, the oldest daughter, is selling the items in the US.

However, the government of South Africa says that the items belong to the country.

Under the law in South Africa, things that are considered part of the country’s history and culture cannot be taken out of the country.

The South African Heritage Resources Agency, which is responsible for protecting the country’s history and culture, said it has asked to stop the sale.

The appeal got help from the ministry of sports, arts and culture. Minister Zizi Kodwa supports the case to protect the country’s important history.

He said stopping the sale was important because Mandela is a big part of South Africa’s history.

It is important to keep alive the memory of former President Mandela and make sure that future generations in the country learn from his example.

The government did not approve of the auction when it was first announced in 2021. They said that some of the things being sold were important to our country.

So, the first auction that was supposed to happen in 2022 was cancelled and then there was a two-year fight in court.

Last month, the High Court in Pretoria said Ms Mandela can sell the items, even though the government said they are important to the country.

Mr Kodwa says the auction should not happen because Sahra and the culture ministry want to appeal the decision from last month. They say the items were not allowed to be taken out of the country to be shown or sold.

The auction is supposed to start on January 22, but we don’t know if the government’s appeal will stop it.

The New York-based Guernsey’s auction house has already put the items up for sale. The hearing aids could sell for up to $20,000 and one shirt might sell for up to $70,000.

Ms Mandela and others in the Mandela family and the Nelson Mandela Foundation have not given their thoughts on the government’s latest opposition.

She said that the money from the auction will be used to create a special garden to remember Mandela, close to where he is buried.

The auction in South Africa has made a lot of people upset. Some think the government should not sell the valuable items.

But some people think that Mandela’s family should decide about the issue.

Mandela passed away in 2013 when he was 95 years old. He was the leader of the African National Congress and fought against a system called apartheid, where racism was allowed by the law. He was in prison for 27 years.

He was chosen as the first president of South Africa in 1994 through a fair voting process.