Nelson Mandela’s three children reburied in home town Qunu

Mandla Mandela, pictured, had five of Nelson Mandela's dead relatives relocated to his own village in Mvezo. Other Mandela family members want them returned to Qunu (Reuters)

The remains of Nelson Mandela’s three deceased children have been reburied at their original resting site, a day after a court ordered their return two years after Mr Mandela’s grandson exhumed the bodies.

The reburial took place today in Qunu, Mr Mandela’s home town and the place the former President has said he wants to be buried. Forensic tests earlier confirmed the remains were those of his children.

Mr Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, moved the bodies to his village of Mvezo about 25km (15 miles) away – in 2011. Sixteen Mandela family members pursued court action last week to force the grandson to move the bodies back to their original burial site. Mandla Mandela, the oldest male Mandela heir and a tribal chief, told a news conference: “My grandfather like myself would be highly disappointed in what is unraveling.”

The feud comes as Mr Mandela remains critically ill with a lung infection in a Pretoria hospital.

AP