Johannesburg – The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) is requesting any person, country, institution or organisation that gifted or awarded former President Nelson Mandela to come forward with the details.
“… kindly inform SAHRA which gift or awards the respective person, institution or organisation presented to Mandela during his tenure as: president of African National Congress; president of the Republic of South Africa; post 1999 after his tenure,” the agency said in a statement on Wednesday, (12 February 2025).
SAHRA) is a statutory organisation established in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act, no.25 of 1999 (the NHRA).
It is mandated to identify, manage, protect, preserve and conserve heritage resources of national
Section 32 of the NHRA makes provision for the protection of heritage objects and collections as their movement out of South Africa is regulated by SAHRA.
Furthermore, the NHRA makes provision for the declaration of heritage objects or collections that have such exceptional cultural heritage significance to South Africa.
In 2017, SAHRA identified gifts and awards presented to Mandela, as having exceptional significance that warrants declaration as a Specifically Declared Heritage Collection.
“A complete inventory, with provenance for each object, is among many requirements for the declaration of heritage objects and collection,” explained SAHRA.
“It is crucial to know how the objects were acquired and whether there were any conditions attached to them.
“The information must be attained before the formal declaration through publication of a gazette notice, is finalised.”
SAHRA added: “This, therefore, serves as a request and a call to all South African citizens, foreign countries, individuals, organisations, institutions, former and current heads of state to kindly inform SAHRA which gift or awards the respective person, institution or organisation presented to Mandela during his tenure as: President of African National Congress; President of the Republic of South Africa; post 1999 after his tenure”.
Mandela, the first president of South Africa to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, as well as the country’s first black head of state, died on 5 December 2013 at the age of 95.
Additionally, the agency said persons, institutions, and organisations must state whether there were certain conditions attached when the gift was presented.
“Please note we anticipate concluding this process by 17 February 2025,” said SAHRA.
“As such, we’ll greatly appreciate it if this request is treated accordingly. We look forward to your kind co-operation.”
Kindly send your response to Ms. Nolitha Ngcai at:
Email – nngcai@sahra.org.za
Contact no: 0727810780
