Johannesburg - Former president Nelson Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela, did not appear in the Mthatha High Court because he did not get the summons, Eyewitness News reported on Saturday.
His spokesman Freddy Pilusa told the broadcaster the sheriff of the court was reportedly unable to deliver the summons because the gate to Mandla Mandela's home in Mvezo was locked.
Mandela was also not answering his phone.
Pilusa said the Mvezo chief was visiting his ailing grandfather when the papers were served.
Pilusa had to contact Mandla Mandela and tell him about the court action after hearing about it on the news.
Sixteen members of the Mandela family brought an urgent application against him in the court on Friday.
The family wants the remains of Mandela's children to be reburied in Qunu in the Eastern Cape.
Mandla Mandela allegedly dug up the remains of three of Madiba's children and moved them to Mvezo in 2011.
He did so without consulting the rest of the family.
On Friday, Judge Lusindiso Pakade granted an order in favour of the 16 applicants. - Sapa