The planned auction of numerous artifacts belonging to Nelson Mandela has been suspended following a court application to halt it completely, as announced by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) on Tuesday. The online auction, organized by New York-based Guernsey's auction house in collaboration with Dr Makaziwe Mandela, the eldest daughter of the late anti-apartheid icon and South Africa's first democratically elected president, was scheduled for February 24.
This auction had faced substantial public and governmental criticism, which prompted SAHRA to support a court application to appeal a previous judgment that had given the auction the green light. The South African government, in particular, expressed concerns regarding the sale of these historical artifacts.
