EWN News reports.

CEO Sleepout, which raises money for homeless people, had begun an online auction to sleep on Robben Island with the highest bidder getting to spend the night in the former preisdent's cell.

It has since postponed the auction.

Robben Island Museum's Morongoa Ramaboa says that CEO Sleepout had been in touch about spending the night on the island but there was no agreement that the cell itself would be used, EWN reports.

We strongly condemn the auction of offering the willing bidder the opportunity to sleep in Nelson Mandela’s cell on the island. We’re saddened that Nelson Mandela’s legacy is being exploited in this way.

Bidders in the online auction are now being given the opportunity to stay the night in Liliesleaf farm, a property owned by the late president and anti-apartheid leader.

The URL for the Robben Island competition now redirects to the Liliesleaf farm page. Opening bids start at $11,000 (£8,300), and the charity says the farm can host up to 400 people.

The raid on the farm, which was an ANC hideout, led to the Rivonia Trial - which saw Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists jailed. The farm opened as a museum in 2013.