海角大神

In a macabre family feud fought as Nelson聽Mandela聽remained in critical condition, a South African court ruled Wednesday that the former president's grandson must return the bodies of the 94-year-old's three deceased children to their original burial site.

Mandela聽is in "perilous" condition and on life support, according to an affidavit filed Friday and made public in the ruling Wednesday, according to a South African newspaper.

The judge's order means that grandson Mandla聽Mandela聽must reverse the action he took in 2011, when he moved the bodies from聽Mandela's聽hometown in Qunu to his birthplace of Mvezo, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) away. Mandla聽Mandela聽has authority in Mvezo as a tribal chief and has plans to create a聽Mandela shrine, hotel and soccer stadium there.

The case has sparked a wide discussion here about family relations and inheritance.

Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years, remained in critical condition in the hospital Wednesday. He was admitted June 8.

South Africa's anti-apartheid hero said he wanted to be buried in Qunu and attended the burial of his son at the family plot there in 2005.

"It's an issue of greed, and everyone needs to be quite clear about that," said Charlene Smith, the author of three books on the former president, including "Mandela: In Celebration of a Great Life."

"Although he's been able to bring reconciliation to South Africa, he has this warring family," Smith said of Mandela. "He hasn't been able to bring peace at home."

The family divisions became public this week when 15聽Mandela聽members, including wife Graca Machel, pressed a court case to order Mandla聽Mandela聽to return the bodies to Qunu. The judge ordered the bodies to be reburied Wednesday afternoon, and a hearse entered the Mvezo compound shortly after the verdict.

The Mail and Guardian newspaper obtained the affidavit that said聽Mandela's聽health is "perilous" and that a life support machine is helping him breathe.

The court filing said the family members want to bury聽Mandela聽in earth "in which his descendant's remains lie."

The affidavit filed by daughter Makaziwe聽Mandela聽shows the family believes Mandla聽Mandela聽is trying to force the burial of聽Mandela聽in Mvezo for financial gain.

Mandla聽Mandela聽said in a statement Wednesday that he is not against the repatriation of the bodies and will abide by the court decision. But his legal team contends that the graves cannot be exhumed until an appeal to rescind the order is heard.

The case pitted the聽Mandela聽family members against Mandla聽Mandela, who argued that as the family's eldest male he is entitled to move the graves. Upping the ante in the feud, a聽Mandela聽family member pressed criminal charges Tuesday against Mandla for tampering with a grave.

Mandela聽had six children 鈥� four daughters and two sons 鈥� with two wives. Only his three eldest daughters remain alive. Mandla聽Mandela聽is the first-born grandson.

The graves are that of Makgatho聽Mandela, who died in 2005 and is Mandla聽Mandela's聽father;聽Mandela's聽first daughter Makaziwe聽Mandela, who died as an infant in 1948; and聽Mandela's聽second son Madiba Thembekile Mandela, who died in a car accident in 1969.

Many in South Africa hope that by moving the children's graves back to the聽Mandela聽family plot in Qunu, Nelson聽Mandela聽will now get his wish for a burial at Qunu.

"The reason why they had to do this in a rush-rush is because they are definite now that he is going to die. So he does not have to die without his dying wish (burial in Qunu) having been fulfilled," said Mlawu Tyatyeka, an expert on the Xhosa culture of聽Mandela's聽family.

"By the time they will bury聽Mandela聽they want to have everything in place."

The case over the graves is only a part of a larger family battle over how to use the聽Mandela聽name and the millions of dollars in wealth聽Mandela聽will leave behind.

There is a "House of聽Mandela" wine label and two granddaughters are starring in a U.S. television reality show titled "Being聽Mandela." Some family members are also trying to oust several old allies of the former president from control of two companies. That dispute is headed for the courts.

Wednesday's case has captivated a nation that has received only periodic updates on聽Mandela's聽health over the last 26 days, since聽Mandela聽was admitted to a hospital early on a Saturday morning.

The day after criminal charges were pressed against Mandla聽Mandela聽for tampering with a grave, one of South Africa's leading papers led with this dual-meaning headline: "Mandla in grave trouble."

Associated Press reporter Carley Petesch contributed to this report.