Johannesburg – Abathembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo stepped in to quell any disagreements among the Mandela family ahead of former president Nelson Mandela’s memorial service, The Times reported on Monday.

Dalindyebo visited Mandela’s Houghton home two days after Mandela’s eldest daughter Makaziwe wrote to her nephew Mandla Mandela demanding he remove his four dogs from Mandela’s house in Qunu, Eastern Cape, according to the report.

A security official at the Qunu home on Sunday reportedly told the newspaper Mandla had removed his dogs from the house.

The king, at a meeting with Mandela’s family on Sunday, called for unity.

“Every family member must respect each other and support each other,” he reportedly said to those present.

“Everything must be done with love and peace. We have to support each other.”

Mandela died at the age of 95 at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Thursday night.

Friends, colleagues, comrades and family of Nelson Mandela are invited to share their memories and tributes, and to light a candle for him, on his profile at Remembered.co.za.

– SAPA