Madiba's artfacts may be vulnerable to raiders but department doesn't know their worth

The Nelson Mandela Museum is sitting on a gold mine, but has no idea how much it is worth.

This startling revelation was made by the Department of Arts and Culture this week, just a few days after parliament warned that thieves could raid the Mthatha museum - laden with the former statesman's personal artefacts and gifts - unless security was beefed up.

At this stage, the exact value of the collection - which spans the period from Mandela's youth to the mourning after his death - is unknown.

Department of Arts and Culture spokesman Zimasa Velaphi said: "The Nelson Mandela Museum artefacts are currently not evaluated due to budget constraints. The situation is set to change in the 2017-18 fiscal year."

Velaphi said the National Treasury had committed to remedying this, but ironically evaluation of the items could put them at greater risk.

Xoliswa Tom, chair of parliament's arts and culture portfolio committee, said: "Once the artefacts are valued, people will get to know how expensive they are. It's not that they have been stolen, but they might be stolen in the future."

The committee inspected the museum last month, and raised concerns about security. In July workers completed a R90-million revamp of the facility.

And now the committee is so worried about theft that it recommended that the State Security Agency get involved.

The committee said: "Most of the time artefacts were [likely to be] stolen by staff members and not ordinary robbers, who are not aware of the real value of the art piece."

However, it heard from museum bosses that security had been assessed.

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"The State Security Agency conducted a threat and risk assessment of the building and we're waiting on the report because the assessment was done in July 2016. The police conducted a physical security assessment of the building and there have been no security incidents reported since the re-opening," minutes of the meeting stated.

Most of the artefacts are kept in boxes, drawers and display cases protected by security glass or Perspex sheets.

Nokuzola Tetani, marketing head at the Mthatha and Qunu branches of the museum, said tourists who visited Mandela's house in Qunu when it was open to the public would scoop up earth from the ground or take leaves from the trees, "just to have any connection to Madiba".

"Whatever has something to do with Mandela, even some dirt or ordinary leaves, they got so excited. If those were just leaves, imagine something he actually used? That hammer, if he used it, would be worth millions," she said, pointing to a Robben Island artefact similar to the one Madiba used to break rocks on the island.

"This is exactly why security needs to be beefed up. We're worried. We really are," said Tetani.

Tom added that apart from Mandela's own artefacts, unique and rare gifts that were given to him are also kept at the museum. "These are very important because they can never be found anywhere in the world."

sub_head_start Relics of honours and hard labour sub_head_end

The Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha, above, is a treasure trove of personal artefacts and gifts given to the former statesman during his life.

Among them is a priceless hand-written ANC Youth League meeting attendance register dated February 24 1944.

It is signed by Mandela and Oliver Tambo, among others, and records a meeting six years before Mandela became ANCYL president.

In the register, Mandela notes his address as Box 55 Johannesburg.

There are also several boxing gloves, including some signed by Muhammad Ali and "Smokin'" Joe Frazier, autographed soccer balls, coins, medals, trophies, paintings and gifts handed over to Mandela during his time in office.

In one of those display cases lies a metal-headed hammer, a shovel, a pick and a green overall. All of them date from Mandela's time in prison on Robben Island.

"We know they are from the island when Madiba was there," said tour guide Zimisele Gamakulu.

"We just don't know for sure if he used them. There's a chance, but we don't know for sure."

But if it was absolutely proved, these could be among the most valuable items in the collection. - Matthew Savides

sub_head_start Mandela memorabilia worth small fortune  sub_head_end

Some Mandela memorabilia that have been sold have fetched a small fortune.

Movie mogul Anant Singh bought a set of photographs, other memorabilia and documents signed by Madiba for R950,000 at an auction three years ago. The set included a signed photograph of Mandela and Muhammad Ali.

A 2004 silver BMW318i - one of only 10 bearing Madiba's signature - was sold to an English car collector for R95,830 in 2014 by British auction house Bonhams.

A 2007 gold Protea Mandela and FW de Klerk peace prize coin set sold for R47,000 on bidorbuy three years ago.

A soccer shirt signed by Madiba and Lucas Radebe found a buyer for R12,500, also on bidorbuy.

According to the trading website, rare 1994 inauguration R5 coins could fetch up to R60,000 on an auction. - Suthentira Govender