Meanwhile, the South African government will contest an auction of historical artifacts of former President Nelson Mandela, scheduled for next month in New York, announced South Africa's Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.

"Former President Nelson Mandela is an integral part of South Africa's heritage," said Minister Zizi Kodwa. "It is therefore important that [...] we ensure that his life's work and experiences remain in the country for generations to come," the South African government said in a statement.

The head of the auction house, however, said that in some cases, for the artifacts, a father would have given his daughter a "small collection of personal items" that would have remained "on the shelves of a cupboard somewhere and would be forgotten over time", rather than being discarded, housed in a museum.