Auction of Mandela’s prison key suspended

Mandela was elected as first president of democratic South Africa in May 1994 and served in the role until June 1999. He died aged 95 in December 2013.
The key to the Robben Island prison cell, where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in jail, had been slated by United States auction house Guernsey’s was planned to go for auction on January 28 along with an assortment of items including an iconic “Madiba” shirt, eyeglasses and ceremonial pens.
Guernsey had been contacted by one of Mandela’s daughters to auction the paraphernalia, including the key. The proceeds of the auction would be used to build Mandela Memorial Garden in his home village where his remains are buried.
However, Guernsey’s President Arlan Ettinger has said that the government agency has now called for the auction to be stopped. The reason for suspension is not because they believed anything was stolen but because things left South Africa without necessary
permits.
Since 1980s, the key was in possession with Mandela’s former prison guard Christo Brand, who struck up an unlikely and enduring friendship with the anti-apartheid icon.