Mthatha – Members of the Mandela family were said to be “ecstatic” after a court ruled that the remains of three of Nelson Mandela’s children must be exhumed and reburied in Qunu.

The Eastern Cape High Court upheld last week’s court ruling in favour of Mandela’s eldest daughter Makaziwe Mandela and over a dozen other family members, who challenged Madiba’s eldest grandson Mandla Mandela.

They claimed he moved the graves from Qunu to Mvezo in 2011 without the knowledge or consent of his relatives. The remains must be exhumed at Mvezo at 15:00 on Wednesday.

‘Private matter’

Journalists mobbed Makaziwe Mandela, her niece Ndileka Mandela and nephew Ndaba Mandela after the ruling.

“It will remain a private matter,” Makaziwe Mandela said as she left the court.

Counsel for the applicants Wesley Hayes said they were ecstatic about the judgment.

“We are delighted with the outcome,” he said outside the courthouse.

Mandla Mandela, who was not present, was ordered to pay the costs of the case.

Dozens of journalists from news organisations around the world sped off soon after the ruling to photograph and film the exhumations at Mandla Mandela’s home in Mvezo.

The graves are that of Mandla’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 Mandela, who died in a car accident in 1969.

SAPA