Makaziwe Mandela, the eldest daughter of the late anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, has successfully won a court case allowing her to sell and export 70 of her father’s personal possessions.
The Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed an effort by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) to prevent the sale, ruling that the agency had interpreted the National Heritage Resources Act too broadly.
The court accepted explanations from Makaziwe Mandela and former Robben Island warden Christo Brand, who clarified that the items in question were personal and not classified as heritage objects, while SAHRA did not provide sufficient reasoning to support its block.
The collection includes notable pieces such as a Robben Island cell key, Mandela’s aviator sunglasses, a floral shirt, a signed 1996 Constitution, a charcoal drawing, his identity card, a prison-used tennis racquet, and gifts from world leaders. The items were scheduled for auction in the United States.
Makaziwe Mandela has stated that proceeds from the sale will be used to create a memorial garden at her father’s grave in Qunu, Eastern Cape, as a tribute to his legacy.
