The South African government on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court to block an American auction house from selling late President Nelson Mandela’s personal items.

The heritage resources agency (SAHRA), the Robben Island Museum, and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture prayed the court to declare the sale illegal. 

They argued that 29 items belonging to the late president formed a part of South Africa’s national heritage.

The development came amid legal battle over Mr Mandela’s personal items, including his identity document and famous shirts.

The New York-based auction house Guernsey’s planned the sale with backing from one of Mandela’s daughters, Makaziwe Mandela.

However, SAHRA insisted that the objects qualify as heritage items under South African law, noting that “exporting them without permission breaks the law.”

Ms Mandela, who earlier approved the auction, said she wanted to raise money for a memorial garden next to her father’s grave in Qunu village.

The items under contention include a key to Mandela’s Robben Island prison cell, where Mr Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years behind bars, clothing, written letters and hearing aid among others

The anti-apartheid leader was elected South Africa’s first democratic president in May 1994.

He served as president until June 1999 and died in December 2013 at 95. His estate has yet to be wound up.