Nelson Mandela's Family Wins Legal Battle to Sell His Sunglasses, Shirt And Keys

A South African court has rejected an attempt by the country’s heritage authorities to block the sale and export of personal items belonging to anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

The contested collection includes 70 artefacts, such as a Robben Island cell key, a pair of aviator sunglasses, one of Mandela’s signature floral shirts, a personally signed copy of the 1996 South African Constitution, a tennis racquet he used during his imprisonment, and gifts from world leaders, including former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle.

These items were set to be auctioned in the United States and belong to Mandela’s eldest daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, and Christo Brand, a former Robben Island warden who worked with Mandela during his 27-year imprisonment.

The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) had argued that the artefacts were part of the nation’s heritage and therefore protected from export under the National Heritage Resources Act. SAHRA first learned of the planned auction from a British newspaper in late 2021, which reported that the Robben Island key alone could fetch over £1 million ($1.35m).

The agency subsequently contacted the US auction house, Guernsey, requesting that the sale be suspended and the items returned to South Africa.

However, in its ruling, the Supreme Court of Appeal found SAHRA’s interpretation of the law “overly broad,” noting that neither Makaziwe Mandela nor Christo Brand’s explanations of ownership had been properly challenged by the agency. The court sided with the heirs, ruling that the items did not fall under SAHRA’s definition of protected heritage objects.

Makaziwe Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s only daughter with his first wife, welcomed the decision and criticized SAHRA for assuming it could interpret her father’s wishes better than his own family.

“Nobody is more invested in ensuring Tata’s [Mandela’s] legacy endures in the way he would want to be remembered than those who carry his name,” she said, adding that no final decisions had yet been made regarding the auction.

Proceeds from the planned sale are intended to fund a memorial garden at Mandela’s gravesite in Qunu, Eastern Cape province.

The ruling has sparked debate among the public. Some argue that Mandela’s items should remain in South Africa for future generations, while others believe the family should have the final say in how they are used.

Mandela, who passed away in 2013 at age 95, led South Africa’s African National Congress in the fight against apartheid and was imprisoned for 27 years. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 alongside then-President FW de Klerk and became the country’s first democratically elected president in 1994.