Nelson Mandela was South Africa's first democratically elected president.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation has put out a strong statement denying that the former South African president and anti-apartheid revolutionary was ever against same-sex marriages.
Although the statement did not make any direct reference to it, observers said it was made in reaction to an anti-gay leaflet distributed in Australia that used the global icon's name out of context, suggesting he was opposed to same-sex marriage.
"It has come to the attention of the Nelson Mandela Foundation that the words and image of Nelson Mandela are being used to infer that he was opposed to same-sex marriage. The Nelson Mandela Foundation would like to correct this misrepresentation," the statement from the Foundation read.
"We object to the misuse of the legacy of someone who worked precisely for the recognition of such rights. As South Africa's first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela signed into law a constitution that stood for the rights of all."
"Chapter 9 of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa says: 'The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.'"
"Same-sex marriage has been legal in South Africa since the Civil Union Act came into force on November 30, 2006."
The leaflet circulating in Australia uses Nelson Mandela's image and one of his quotes - 'Children are our greatest treasure. They are our future' - in its call to resist legal recognition of same-sex marriages.