Mandela’s Prison Key, Sunglasses and Iconic Shirt Cleared for Auction After Landmark Court Ruling
A South African court has cleared the way for the sale and export of several deeply symbolic personal items belonging to the late anti-apartheid icon and former president, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, following a decisive legal victory by his eldest daughter, Makaziwe Mandela.
In a ruling delivered on 23 January 2026, the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed an attempt by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) to block the sale of 70 personal artefacts associated with Mandela, including his Robben Island prison cell key, a pair of Aviator sunglasses, and one of his distinctive floral shirts.
The artefacts, some of the most intimate objects linked to Mandela’s personal and political journey, are jointly owned by Makaziwe Mandela and Christo Brand, a former Robben Island prison warden who developed a close relationship with Mandela during his incarceration. The items were earmarked for export to the United States, where they are expected to be auctioned.
SAHRA had argued that the items formed part of South Africa’s national heritage and were therefore legally protected from being sold or taken out of the country under the National Heritage Resources Act. The agency became aware of the potential sale in late 2021 after a British newspaper reported that Mandela’s prison key alone could fetch over £1 million ($1.35 million) at auction.
Following that report, SAHRA wrote to the US-based auction house Guernsey, urging it to suspend the sale and return the artefacts to South Africa. However, the court ruled that the agency’s interpretation of what constitutes a protected heritage object was “overly broad” and legally unsustainable.
In its judgment, the court noted that while Makaziwe Mandela and Christo Brand provided detailed explanations as to why the items were not heritage objects under the law, SAHRA failed to clearly justify the legal basis for its claim.
Beyond the prison key and clothing, the collection also includes a personally signed copy of South Africa’s 1996 Constitution, one of Mandela’s charcoal drawings, his Robben Island ID card, a tennis racquet he used while imprisoned, and several diplomatic gifts from world leaders, including former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Makaziwe Mandela has said the proceeds from the sale were intended to help fund a memorial garden at her father’s final resting place in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, honouring his legacy in a dignified and lasting way.
Welcoming the court’s decision, Makaziwe criticised the heritage agency for presuming to understand Mandela’s wishes better than his own family.
“Nobody is more invested in ensuring Tata’s legacy endures in the way he would want to be remembered than those who carry his name,” she said, referring to Mandela by his clan name.
She added that no final decision had yet been taken on whether the auction would proceed or what would ultimately happen to the items.
The ruling has reignited public debate in South Africa, with some arguing that all items connected to Mandela should remain in the country for the benefit of future generations, while others insist that the family has the right to determine the fate of his personal belongings.
It remains unclear whether the government will pursue other legal avenues to halt the sale. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has been contacted for comment.
Nelson Mandela, who died in 2013 at the age of 95, spent 27 years in prison, including 18 years on Robben Island, for his role in the struggle against apartheid. He was released in 1990, jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, and became South Africa’s first democratically elected president in 1994, cementing his place as one of the most revered figures in global history.
