Mandela remains located: police

Mandla Mandela's property in Mvezo were the bodies of three of former president Nelson Mandela children were buried. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

Mandla Mandela's property in Mvezo were the bodies of three of former president Nelson Mandela children were buried. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

Published Jul 3, 2013

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Mvezo - The remains of three of former president Nelson Mandela's children who were buried in Mvezo were found on Wednesday evening, Eastern Cape police said.

“All three's remains have been found and have been put into the different hearses,” Lt-Col Mzukisi Fatyela said.

“They were found in the same area but they were unmarked.”

He said the remains were being taken to a mortuary.

Earlier in the day, the ailing icon's grandson Mandla Mandela, who is also the Mvezo chief, lost a challenge against a court order instructing him to rebury the remains in Qunu.

The Eastern Cape High Court later also dismissed an application by Mandla Mandela to have the earlier order rescinded.

Mandla Mandela exhumed the graves of the three children in 2011

and reburied their remains in Mvezo.

Mandla Mandela's lawyer said it was illegal for the Mandela family to exhume the remains because there was no one at Mvezo to show them where the remains were, and the graves were not clearly marked.

Health officials started digging for the remains in the early evening after officials from the sheriff of the court's office broke open a gate to Mvezo village to gain access to the graves.

ENCA cameras filmed an official using a pick-axe to force open the gate.

Three hearses and police vans entered the village.

They were to transport the remains of three of Mandela's children from Mvezo, where he was born, to Qunu, where he grew up.

Mandela's eldest surviving daughter Makaziwe Mandela and grandson Ndaba Mandela reportedly arrived at Mvezo along with the officials from the health department.

On Tuesday, criminal charges were laid against Mandla Mandela over the exhumation and reburial.

Fatyela said a case of tampering with a grave had been opened.

“The investigation started yesterday (Tuesday) after the case was opened,” he said.

Fatyela said members of the Mandela family laid the charge, but declined to name them.

Mandela remained critically ill on Wednesday in a Pretoria hospital, where he is being treated for a recurring lung infection. - Sapa

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