South Africa opposes Nelson Mandela’s keystring auction | Nelson Mandela News

The Cabinet Secretary of State has demanded the cancellation of the auction of the key to the Cape Town prison where Mandela was imprisoned.

A South African cabinet minister has called for the cancellation of the next auction in the U.S. The key to a cape at Robben Island Prison in Cape Town, where Nelson Mandela, the country’s first black president and internal rights activist, was long imprisoned. against apartheid.

The key is among the Mandela memorabilia sold by the Guernsey auction house in New York on January 28th.

Most of the items were donated by members of Mandela’s family to raise funds for a planned museum and garden around his grave, while the key became his friend while he was selling Mandela’s former inmates.

“It is unbelievable that Guernsey, who is clearly aware of the painful history and symbolism of our country, is being auctioned off without consulting with the South African government, South African heritage authorities and the Robben Island Museum. Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa said in a statement on Friday.

“This key belongs to the Robben Island Museum and the South African State in the care of the South African State. It’s nobody’s business. “

“The key must be returned to its rightful owner immediately and this auction must be stopped,” Mthethwa said, adding that he was discussing with authorities “appropriate steps to stop the auction and ensure the return of the auction.” The key to South Africa ”.

In this regard, the auction house said that the proceeds from the sale will be used to raise funds for the construction of a memorial garden and museum around Mandela’s tomb.

Mandela’s eldest daughter, Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah, approached Guernsey to help build the garden to hold a Mandela memorial auction, Guernsey President Arlan Ettinger told the Associated Press.

“We are honored to sell many items from the Mandela family to help create the garden,” Ettinger said.

Among the 33 items to be auctioned are one of Mandela’s colorful T-shirts, gifts from former US Presidents Barack Obama and George W Bush, as well as items and artwork signed by Mandela.

His first prison key is one of three items put up for sale by Christo Brand, Mandela’s Robben Island prison guard.

Mandela also gave Brand a draft of the South African constitution and a sports bike that Mandela used.

The key has been in Brand’s hands for many years and has been shown internationally, Ettinger said.

“The keys symbolize the worst and best of humanity,” Ettinger said.

“Mr. Mandela was locked up for his anti-racist stance, and he was released. to create one “.