Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa said the key to Nelson Mandela’s prison cell at Robben Island is considered state property. Photo for illustration: iStock
Last week, SAHRA, together with the Robben Island Museum and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture launched an urgent application to repatriate 30 objects and artefacts – including the key to the former president’s prison cell, as well as various artworks, signed books, and clothing items that belonged to Mandela – from the United States.
News of the auction sparked controversy, and it was ultimately cancelled following engagements between SAHRA – which maintains the items in question are “heritage objects” – and Guernsey’s.SAHRA in its papers said the items had still not been returned to the country, though. It further said once they were returned, they would have to be handed over to the Hawks, because they were now part of a criminal investigation.
“I am aware of several wealthy South African businessmen who own several items of Nelson Mandela memorabilia and official artwork. They are allowed by [SAHRA] to deal with their private property as they see fit,” she said.’s claims that the prison key had been “illegally and unlawfully removed from the national estate of the Republic of South Africa”.
She asked that the application be dismissed with costs, a portion of which she wanted Malgas ordered to pay in her personal capacity.Dr Ndukuyakhe Ndlovu – an anthropological expert – described the question at the heart of the case as being strongly linked to an individual’s personal rights.