The Tuesday auction of dozens of items that once belonged to Nelson Mandela has been suspended, pending a court decision that would halt it completely.
The online auction was scheduled by New York-based Guernsey's auction house and was slated for Feb. 27. The auction was to be done in conjunction with Dr. Makaziwe Mandela, the oldest daughter of the late Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected president of South Africa.
The auction received a great deal of public criticism, as well as from the South African government, which is why the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) is involved.
SAHRA will appeal an earlier court decision that gave the auction the go-ahead. Among the items listed for auction are Mandela's Ray-Ban sunglasses, "Madiba" shirts, personal letters from prison and a blanket given to him by former United States President Barack Obama and wife Michelle.
A champagne cooler gifted to Mandela by former U.S. President Bill Clinton was also listed. Bidding was to start at $24,000.Among other items listed for auction were Mandela's identification document issued upon his release from prison in 1993.
The Guernsey website stated that the planned auction was "nothing short of remarkable" and stated that proceeds would be used to build the Mandela Memorial Garden in Qunu, the village where he was born and where his body is interred.
SAHRA said in statement that the suspension is a result of its engagement with Dr. Mandela and the auction house.
"SAHRA welcomes the decision by Guernsey's Auction House to suspend the auction," the agency said.SAHRA is awaiting the outcome of an application for leave to appeal the decision by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
SAHRA argues that the items that will be auctioned off are part of South Africa's cultural heritage and that these artifacts should be preserved for future generations rather than be auctioned off.
