Nelson Mandela's grandson defends decision over burial site

Nelson Mandela's grandson defends decision over burial site, Nelson Mandela's eldest grandson has launched a bitter attack on other members of his family, saying that the former South African president would be "highly disappointed" by the very public battle over the family burial plot.

Mandla Mandela called a press conference in Mvezo village a day after the sheriff of the local court used a pickaxe to force open the gates of his homestead so the bones of Mandela's three late children, including his father, Makgatho Mandela, who died in 2005, could be exhumed.

Sixteen members of Mandela's family, led by the former president's daughter Makaziwe, had won a court case against Mandla, who secretly moved the graves to Mandela's birthplace of Mvezo in 2011. The bodies underwent DNA tests on Thursday and were reburied in Qunu, which Mandela has chosen as his own resting place.

"It would be a mistake for me to assume what my grandfather would think of it all, but I can say that, like myself, he would be highly disappointed in what is unravelling," Mandla said. Asked why he had moved the remains from Qunu to Mvezo, the ANC MP replied: "I received an instruction from my aunt, Makaziwe, to remove the remains and bury them in a secret location in Qunu, where she is preparing a gravesite for my grandfather.

"Because this was not an instruction coming from my grandfather, I didn't follow those instructions. I took the remains and temporarily kept them here in Mvezo, until we gain knowledge of what my grandfather's desires are or those of his spouse, Graca Machel."

The Mvezo tribal chief questioned the right of many Mandela relatives to speak on family matters. "Many people have been parading as the Mandela family, in particular, the day to day decisions of the Mandela family. At the moment it seems any and everyone can come and say they are a Mandela and demand to be part of the Mandela family and take part in the decisions of the family. Individuals have decided to abandon their own families and jump on the Mandela wagon. This is the very family that has taken their own father, their own grandfather, to court for his monies."

Mandla noted how Makaziwe recently took legal action to remove Mandela's long-time friend and lawyer George Bizos from the board of two investment funds.

"I still refuse to be associated with the court actions that are a clear squabble over my grandfather's monies," he said. "This, too, will come to surface, and you will see the real agenda behind those who saw to come and attack a soft target like myself."

"I am tired of people who want to use me for popularity and short term gains, and I hope that as we conclude today's session we can put this to bed. The facts are there."

At the press conference broadcast live on TV, Mandla also claimed that his young son, Zanethemba, was in fact the child of an illicit liaison between his brother Mbuso and Mandla's now ex-wife, Anais Grimaud, as had been widely rumoured. "Mbuso impregnated my wife," Mandla said.

Mandla, 39, first raised questions about his son's paternity last year when he split from French-speaking Grimaud, who has since moved back home to the Indian Ocean island of Reunion. He also claimed that he was unable to have children.

Meanwhile, Jacob Zuma, the South African president visited Mandela, 94, in hospital in Pretoria. He was still in a critical but stable condition. Zuma thanked the international community for their support. "We appreciate all the love and compassion," he said. "Madiba [Mandela's clan name] is receiving the best medical care from a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals who are at his bedside around the clock. He is well looked after."

Machel made a surprise appearance at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Johannesburg for the launch of a sports and culture day dedicated to the anti-apartheid hero. Machel said she was attending the event for several reasons, but mainly to say "Thank you, thank you, thank you" for people's support since her husband had been taken into hospital.

"Now we are about 25 days we have been in hospital," she said. "Although Madiba sometimes may be uncomfortable, very few times he is in pain, but he is fine. I think the best gift which has given this nation again is the gift of unity."

She continued: "While he lies in hospital, he offered an opportunity for all of us again, from deep in our hearts, to be united. We saw young and old, rich and poor, black and white, people from all walks of life, all faiths, you name it, every single South African united.

"I think that's the gift – whatever is the outcome of his stay in hospital – that will remain his second time where he offered this nation an opportunity to be united under the banner of our flag, under the banner of our constitution. We feel all of us equal in the love for him and, more importantly, it has to be in the love of our country and in the building of our future."

Machel described the building of a children's hospital, for which fundraising continues, as "his last wish", adding to applause: "That's to keep Madiba alive for the thousands of years to come. That hospital is going to be a tangible monument of goodwill and participation of every one of you to touch the lives of those children."

Another of Mandela's grandsons, Zondwa, gave an update on his condition. "He's doing well under the unfortunate circumstances. He's conscious. I'm able to communicate with him. It's obviously a challenge for him being sedated and so forth. In his state, it's quite difficult for him for him to interact openly."

Zondwa confirmed that Mandela is wearing an oxygen mask. "He's not able to talk, but he can definitely respond to interaction and words."

Nelson Mandela's grandson defends decision over burial site 2013-07-04T10:23:00-07:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: My Videos Tube