Mandla Mandela court decision expected

The Eastern Cape High Court is expected to make a decision on Wednesday about the relocation of the graves of former president Nelson Mandela's children.

 

His grandson Mandla Mandela has brought an application to set aside an order made last week compelling him to return the remains of the three children to Qunu from Mvezo, where he had them reburied two years ago.

 

The graves are those of Mandela's eldest son, Mandla's father, Makgato Mandela who died in 2005; Mandela's first daughter Makaziwe, who died as an infant in 1948; and Mandela's second son Madiba Thembekile, who died in a car accident in 1969.

 

Sixteen members of Mandela's family want the remains exhumed on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Last week, the court ordered Mandla Mandela, the official head of the Madiba clan and an African National Congress MP, to return the remains to Nelson Mandela's childhood home of Qunu, from his birthplace of Mvezo.

 

However the process was delayed because of an error on the court order giving him until "July 29" to move the remains instead of "June 29".

 

On Tuesday, members of the Mandela family opened a case of grave tampering against Mandla Mandela at the Bityi police station.

   

-Sapa