Dozens of artifacts were scheduled to be available
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The planned auction of dozens of artifacts belonging to Nelson Mandela has been suspended pending a court application to completely halt it, the body that protects South Africa’s cultural heritage said Tuesday.
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SAHRA said in a statement that the suspension is a result of its engagement with Dr. Mandela and the auction house.
“SAHRA welcomes the decision by Guernsey’s Auction House to suspend the auction,” the agency said.
The agency is awaiting the outcome of an application for leave to appeal the decision by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to let the auction go ahead, dismissing an interdict by the agency in December last year.
The agency argues that the items to be auctioned are the country’s cultural heritage artifacts and should be preserved for future generations instead of being sold to the highest bidder.
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