London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Planned Auction Of Key To Nelson Mandela's Prison Cell Halted

Planned Auction Of Key To Nelson Mandela's Prison Cell Halted

The key to the Robben island prison cell, where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in jail, had been slated by US auction house Guernsey's to go under the hammer on January 28.
The planned auction of the key to the prison cell that once held South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela has been suspended, the auctioneers said Friday.

The key to the Robben island prison cell, where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in jail, had been slated by US auction house Guernsey's to go under the hammer on January 28.

Guernsey's announced on its website that the auction has been postponed until further notice "pending a review" by South African Heritage Resource Agency.

The government agency called for the auction to be stopped "not because they believed anything was stolen but that things left South Africa without necessary permits," Guernsey's president Arlan Ettinger told AFP on phone.

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, commended the auction house for agreeing to suspend the auction.

In a statement, the ministry said "the key symbolises South Africa's painful history whilst also representing triumph of the human spirit over evil.

"This key is living proof of South Africans' long walk to freedom and belongs to the people of South Africa. It therefore must rightfully be returned to the country".

The key was one of the items to be auctioned, among an assortment including an iconic "Madiba" shirt, eyeglasses and ceremonial pens.

The proceeds were due to be used to build Mandela Memorial Garden in his home village where his remains are buried.

Ettinger said his firm had been contacted by one of Mandela's daughters to auction the paraphernalia, including the key.

Mandela's former prison guard Christo Brand, who struck up an unlikely and enduring friendship with the anti-apartheid icon, had been in possession of the key since the 1980s.

It was broken and he "sent it back to the authorities on the main land, ... but it was returned to him, and he put it in a drawer and it stayed there for 30 years until he was contacted by a museum which was assembling things relating to Mandela," said Ettinger, commending Brand for being "very generous to give up this possession to help build the garden".

The auctioneers explained that they had complied with the government decision.

"I know his is upsetting to the Mandela family, it's upsetting to us, but... they (government) are doing what they think is best, we just disagree with them," he said.

AFP was unable to get any immediate response from the Mandela family.

Mandela was elected as first president of democratic South Africa in May 1994 and served in the role until June 1999.

He died aged 95 in December 2013.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×