Robben Island fence for sale

The fence that jailed some of the country's foremost leaders is being used to do good. The Robben Island Fence initiative sells small sections of the wire barrier that surrounded the prison, incorporated into various artworks.

The art ranges from paintings to photographs - originals and prints. Founder of the initiative, Jacques De Bruin, said it was ''affordable to the man in the street'' at between R3 500 and R30 000. For every piece sold 10% goes to a charity which assists entreprenuership.

De Bruin said they were inviting artists to participate.

"We want to promote the arts through the sale of the fence,'' said De Bruin.

''We are selling a story... We want people to look beyond the fence in their lives to achieve their greatness just like Madiba did.''

The fence was ''rescued'' by artist Chris Swift in 2009 when the prison underwent renovations. Because Swift used most of the fence to create artwork - including a star mounted on Signal Hill - available pieces are limited.

Every piece of fence - each of which is unique - has a special number.  The buyer gets a password and can authenticate the piece of fence online. But a certificate of authentification is also issued to every buyer.

De Bruin said they started selling ''on and off'' in 2010 but formalised the initiative in December last year before Nelson Mandela died.

To date 250 to 300 pieces have been sold.

Some have been auctioned and various charities have received up to R200 000.

"I enjoy finding ways of documenting or commenting on both the problems and the possiblity of answers through the discarded, whether trash, detritus or the waste of human talents in the form of unemployement,'' said Swift.

Designer Charmaine Taylor dips pieces of the fence in gold or silver and makes jewellery which has been sold to the likes of Paula Abdul and Matt Damon. Her pieces costs between R2500 and R9200 and she too donates a percentage of the profits to charity.

• The work is currently exhibited at Markex at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Berlin Wall relics for sale from R100 to R28k

Artist Chris Swift who salvaged the Robben Island fence, has likened it to the Berlin Wall. Ironically pieces of the wall are available in South Africa too.

Yesterday a man from Kraaifontein in Cape Town listed Berlin Wall ''pieces'' on Gumtree  for  R900.

"Own your own piece of history. You get your sertificate with (sic),'' he posted.

But on ebay a piece of the wall ''exclusive from Berlin Germany'' could set one back more than R28 000.

There are smaller pieces from just over R100 - some of which come with a certificate and photographs.

According to the Berlin Wall Memorial website the inner city border between East and West Berlin was 43km. The wall was constructed in 1961 and came down in 1989.