Among the former President’s 79 signed mementos is a photograph of him with legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, a photo of Madiba and then wife Winnie walking into a Soweto stadium to address supporters after his release from prison in 1990, a pass for a 1988 tribute concert in London’s Wembley Stadium in honour of his 70th birthday, the historic Rivonia Trial speech he delivered from the dock in 1964, and a bottle of a wine.

SAPA-AFP report that, as the highest bidder at the auction, Singh paid R950,000 for this rare collection.

They quote Alan Demby, president of the Johannesburg-based auction house Stephan Welz & Co, who said of the producer’s purchase: “I think it's a fair price. I think the seller got a good price, the buyer got a great price.

“It's more about what (Mandela) represents than the actual items. It's not rare, it's almost priceless. And I think that's what makes it such a fascinating collection.”

Opening in South Africa before any other country in the world, ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ hits cinemas nationwide on 28 November.

Teamtalk

(Credit: Twitter Anant Singh  )