Nelson Mandela’s eldest daughter from his first marriage to Evelyn Mase, Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah, is set to auction 70 of her late father’s belongings, including his identity book.
The auction, scheduled for 22 February, follows Mandela-Amuah’s legal victory over the South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra), which aimed to prevent the sale of some of the objects.
The collection, valued at an estimated R56-million, includes a range of Mandela’s belongings, from letters penned in prison to sketches he made during his detention.
It also features a gift from former US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle alongside Mandela’s 1993 ID book, TimesLive reported.
There’s also a possibility that a key to Mandela’s Robben Island prison cell might be included, which has brought objections from South African officials.
Initially planned for 28 January 2022, the auction by Guernsey’s auction house in New York was delayed due to the legal tussle with Sahra.
The agency had argued against the sale of 29 items, considering them national heritage objects.
The proceeds from the auction are reserved for the creation of the Mandela Memorial Garden at Mandela’s final resting place in Qunu in the Eastern Cape.
The garden is imagined as a tribute and an inspirational reminder of Mandela’s profound influence on the world.
Compiled by staff writer
Pictured above: Nelson Mandela’s ID book.
Image source: X
