The auctioning of a key in the United States has sparked heated debate in South Africa. Because this key did not open any door. It was one of the keys to opening Nelson Mandela’s cell on Robben Island, the prison island where the former South African president spent 18 of his 27 years in detention, off Cape Town.
It was entrusted to a New York auction house by Christo Brand, former jailer and friend of Nelson Mandela. It was a key that had broken in two in the early 1980s and had been put aside by Christo Brand. He found it in his business in 2018 and poured it into an exhibition on Nelson Mandela that is underway in the United States, before offering it for sale in New York.
This is where the controversy erupts. This key is not only an object, it is more than that, explains Mpho Masemola, deputy secretary of the association of former political prisoners of South Africa.
“This key is the symbol of our freedom.”
Mpho Masemola, Deputy Secretary of the Association of Former Political Prisoners of South Africato franceinfo
“She is associated with the release of political prisoners from Robben Island”, continues Mpho Masemola who finds “disturbing “ to see it put up for auction. “This key belongs to the South Africans”, he hammers.
Christo Brand explains that he was approached by a daughter of Nelson Mandela, Makaziwe Mandela, who offered to put her up for sale to finance a memorial, a garden in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape province where Nelson Mandela is buried . But for Mpho Masemola, the former detainee, these explanations are not convincing. He asks for the key to be repatriated: “We would be happy if Christo Brand and the auction house could make amends and bring back the key. It belongs to the state, it must be recorded and placed in the national archives.”
In the face of the outcry, the government managed to halt the auction which was scheduled to take place on January 23. He says he is working for the repatriation of the key that he considers a national heritage. This remains to be demonstrated, responded Andrew Russell, spokesperson and agent for Christo Brand. Guest of the Cape Talk show, he stood up for his client.
“The proceeds of the sale were to be used entirely to fund the memorial. Christo would not have received anything.”
Andrew Russell, spokesperson and agent for Christo Brandto franceinfo
“In the meantime, and after consulting with his lawyers, Christo has asked the auction house to remove the key. Our lawyers will not hesitate to take legal action against any individual or organization that makes defamatory statements. against Christo “, continues Andrew Russell.
Christo Brand had put up other items for sale: a Mandela exercise bike when he was in prison and a signed copy of the Constitution. The Ministry of Culture is asking for their assessment to see if they too are part of South Africa’s national heritage.