Zenith

  • Latest News

    Wednesday, July 3, 2013

    Mandla Mandela Loses Court Bid ...Court Orders Him To Return Remains; Charges Laid

    Mandla Mandela (C), grandson of former South African president Nelson Mandela, sits with the elders of Qunu during the funeral of his relative 97-year-old Florence Mandela on June 15, 2013 in Qunu

    Mthatha - The remains of former president Nelson Mandela's children must be returned to Qunu for reburial, the Eastern Cape High Court ruled on Wednesday.

    Judge  Lusindiso Pakade made the ruling after Madiba's grandson  Mandla Mandela challenged an earlier court order compelling him to return the graves, which he had moved from Mvezo to Qunu in 2011, without the knowledge or consent of his relatives.
    The exhumation must take place by 15:00 on Wednesday. The original court order was made last week.
    One of the lawyers for the Mandela family was heard saying outside court: "The hearse is on the way."
    Mandela's eldest daughter Makaziwe Mandela her nephew Ndaba Mandela, and niece Ndileka Mandela were in court to observe proceedings.
    The graves are those of Mandela's eldest son, Mandla  Mandela's father,  Makgatho Mandela  who died in 2005; Mandela's first daughter Makaziwe Mandela, who died as an infant in 1948; and Mandela's second son Madiba Thembekile, who died in a car accident in 1969.


    Makaziwe Mandela and Ndileka Mandela leave the Mthatha high court on July 2

    Makaziwe Mandela, daughter of Nelson Mandela, listens to proceedings in the Mthatha high court on July 2.

    Makaziwe Mandela, Ndaba Mandela, and Ndileka Mandela, listen to proceedings at the Mthatha high court

    Ndaba Mandela is surrounded by media in the Mthatha high court. A judge instructed Mandela's eldest grandson Mandla to transfer the remains to Qunu by 3pm Wednesday

    Ndileka Mandela, grandaughter of Nelson Mandela listens to proceedings. The court ordered the return of the remains of three of Nelson Mandela's children to his ancestral village, following a bitter family feud linked to the eventual burial site of the ailing anti-apartheid hero

    Ndileka Mandela, Makaziwe Mandela, and Ndaba Mandela leave the Mthatha high court

    Criminal Charges Laid Against Mandla Mandela
    Criminal charges have been laid against Mandla Mandela over the exhumation and reburial of former president Nelson Mandela's three children, Eastern Cape police said on Tuesday.
     "Yes, I confirm a case of tampering with a grave was opened at Bityi police station on July 2nd," Lt-Col Mzukisi Fatyela said.

    Fatyela declined to reveal who laid the charge. 
    "A case is opened at the police station and we will now investigate that case." 
    The criminal charges came as a civil case played itself out in the Eastern Cape High Court in Mthatha.
    Nelson Mandela's eldest daughter Makaziwe and 16 other Mandela family members were last week granted an order compelling Mandla Mandela to return to Qunu the remains of Madiba's three children.

    They were Mandla Mandela's father Makgatho 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. 
    The Mandela relatives claim Mandla Mandela had not sought permission or even informed family members he had moved the graves.
     The court case came amid heightened media attention on Qunu -- following Nelson Mandela's 25th day in a Pretoria hospital for treatment of a recurring lung infection. He remained in a critical condition.
      
    Qunu is the village where former president Mandela was born. His family later moved to Mvezo where he was raised.
    • Blogger Comments
    • Facebook Comments

    0 comments:

    Item Reviewed: Mandla Mandela Loses Court Bid ...Court Orders Him To Return Remains; Charges Laid Rating: 5 Reviewed By: BrandIconImage
    Scroll to Top