Madiba's BMW to be auctioned
2012-09-21 09:31
A LONG DRIVE TO FREEDOM: Former President, Nelson Mandela, pictured with chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, Dr. Norbert Roithofer (left) and Mr Ian Robertson, then managing director of BMW South Africa.
Johannesburg – BMW South Africa has donated former president Nelson Mandela’s BMW 7 Series security vehicle to the 46664 Mandela Day School Library project.
The customised BMW, given to the former president by BMW SA, will be auctioned and the proceeds will go towards supplying fully stocked container libraries to disadvantaged schools in Johannesburg.
The office of the former president returned the car to BMW at the end of its service life. It has since been restored to immaculate condition and is on display at the Franschhoek Motor Museum.
AUCTIONED FOR GOOD
The private auction will determine the next home for the car, which was used as the official transport for one the most famous and revered statesman of his generation. Vying to take ownership of the former president’s BMW at the silent auction will be avid car collectors as well as museums from around the world.
Robert Coutts, CEO of 46664 bangle Initiative said: “It is important that we balance the preservation of history surrounding the car with the commercial reality of funding the next phase of the 46664 Mandela Day School Library project.
“We hope the car will find a home in a museum in South Africa so the history is preserved appropriately in our own country. Once the car has been sold for the price we anticipate, it means we would be in a position to deliver one library every six weeks for a year.”
Bodo Donauer, BMW SA’s managing director, said: “With 90% of South African schools without libraries, there is a glaringly huge gap in the resources necessary to educate children. As BMW we are happy to make a contribution to this excellent initiative as the country seeks sustainable solutions to its education challenges.”
As part of the agreement, the first two libraries acquired will be placed at schools in the communities near BMW’s Plant Rosslyn, north of Pretoria, where most of the plant's staff live.
