As I have previously discussed, after President Obama’s visit to South Africa, Nelson Mandela’s family members began fighting over the bodies of his three children. Without permission Mandla, chief of the Mvezo area in South Africa and Mandela’s grandson, had all three bodies excavated and reburied in his village where Nelson Mandela’s father was born. Now, Mandla is arguing that he should be able to decide Nelson Mandela’s final resting place. He was supposed to make a court appearance to explain that he had a cultural right to decide where the former statesman was buried. The cultural right stems from thr tradition as the oldest surviving male descendent is entitled to decide where the body will be buried if it is not expressed in the will. Mandla claims he would first consult with Mandela’s wife prior to making a decision.
See Stuart Graham, Manla wants to Decide on Madiba’s Burial, Iol News, Jul. 3, 2013.
