Tug of war over Mandela family burials set to continue

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 tug of war over the remains of three of Nelson Mandela's children is set to continue after his grandson said he would challenge a court order to return them to the anti-apartheid icon's childhood home of Qunu in Eastern Cape.

While the globally celebrated 94-year-old remains critically ill in a Pretoria hospital his family has been embroiled in a bitter court battle that is seen as an attempt to govern where he will be laid to rest.

His grandson, Mandla Mandela, had five of the former president's dead relatives relocated to his own village in Mvezo two years ago.

Other Mandela family members want them returned to Qunu, saying it would meet the Nobel Peace laureate's wishes to be buried there with his children.