South Africa slams auction of Nelson Mandela’s cell key
- Authorities say the key to the cell on Robben Island, where the ex-president was jailed for 27 years, belongs to the country’s people
- Mandela’s daughter has approved the sale, and a portion of the proceeds will help fund a garden around his grave, says UK auction house Guernsey’s
South Africa on Friday condemned the planned auction of the key to the prison cell that once held ex-president and national hero Nelson Mandela.
The key to the cell on Robben Island, where Mandela was jailed for 27 years, is the headline item of a January 28 auction by British auction house Guernsey’s.
Most of the items were provided by members of Mandela’s family to raise funds for a planned museum and garden around his grave. According to media reports, Mandela’s former prison guard Christo Brand is the seller of the key.
“It is unfathomable for Guernsey’s, which is clearly aware of the painful history of our country and the symbolism of the key, to consider auctioning the key without any consultation with the South African government, the heritage authorities in South Africa and Robben Island museum,” Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa said in a statement.
“This key belongs to the people of South Africa under the care of Robben Island museum and the South African state. It is not anyone’s personal belonging,” Mthethwa said. “The key must be returned to its rightful owners with immediate effect and this auction must be halted.”
In response, the auction house said the proceeds of the sale are to raise funds to build a 24-acre memorial garden and museum around Mandela’s burial site.
Mandela’s oldest daughter, Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah, approached Guernsey’s to hold an auction of Mandela memorabilia to help build the garden, said Arlan Ettinger, president of Guernsey’s.
The key has been in Brand’s possession for many years and has been exhibited internationally, Ettinger said. Mandela’s daughter has approved its sale and a portion of the proceeds will go to the garden fund, he added.
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“The key symbolises the worst and the best of humanity,” Ettinger said.
“The key locked up Mr Mandela for his opposition to racial oppression and that was horrendous. The key also freed him and he went from prisoner to president of South Africa and became the inspiration for millions of people around the world. It seems fitting that the sale of the key can now help raise funds to create a memorial around Mr Mandela’s burial site.”
Mandela, who died aged 95 in December 2013, was an anti-apartheid activist.
He was elected as first president of democratic South Africa in May 1994 and served in the role until June 1999.
