South Africa: Nelson Mandela jail key sale condemned by minister

A South African minister on Friday urged the cancellation of an upcoming US public sale of a key to the jail cell the place Nelson Mandela was held.
South Africa’s first Black president was jailed for 27 years for his opposition to apartheid.
Mandela died in December 2013, aged 95. He served as South Africa’s president from May 1994 to June 1999.
The key’s amongst Mandela memorabilia being bought by the Guernsey public sale home in New York on January 28. Most of the objects have been supplied by members of Mandela’s household to lift funds for a deliberate museum and backyard across the late chief’s grave.
The key itself is being bought by Mandela’s former jailer, Christo Brand. The jailer later turned Mandela’s buddy.

What did the minister say?
“It is unfathomable for [the auction house] … to consider auctioning the key without any consultation with the South African government,” Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa mentioned in an announcement.
“The 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 added.
Responding to Mthethwa’s assertion, the public sale home mentioned that the proceeds of the sale are to lift funds to construct a memorial backyard and museum round Mandela’s grave.
Mandela’s oldest daughter, Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah, approached Guernsey to carry the public sale to lift the funds.
The key has been in Brand’s possession for a few years and Mandela’s daughter accredited its sale.

What different objects are on public sale?
Other objects on public sale embrace Mandela’s vibrant shirts, presents from former US presidents, in addition to objects Mandela had signed and art work.
Brand is placing two different objects up on the market: a draft of South Africa’s structure that Mandela inscribed to him and an train bicycle that Mandela had used.