A public auction to sell approximately 70 personal items belonging to South Africa’s anti-apartheid hero, Nelson Mandela has been halted.

Guernsey’s auction house in New York stopped the sale abruptly without an explanation, but the decision comes in response to public outcry in South Africa.

Makaziwe Mandela, the eldest daughter of Nelson Mandela, had planned to auction items such as his hearing aids, walking sticks, and reading glasses on February 22, and use the proceeds to fund a memorial garden near his burial site. 

But the South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) contested her decision, while South Africa’s Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa said that blocking the sale was necessary as it is important to preserve the legacy of Mandela and ensure that his life’s work experiences remain in the country for generations to come.

Mr Mandela died in 2013 at the age of 95.