A bitter feud has erupted within Nelson Mandela's family over his final resting place. The ailing anti-apartheid hero's grandson is lamenting that the dispute has been taken to court.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mandla Mandela said regrettably and reluctantly he was forced to go to court and respond to 16 relatives demanding that Mandela's remains be buried in the village of Qunu.

In Qunu, an elder in the Mandela family said he hoped the dispute over the family gravesite would be resolved soon.

According to the report, Napilisi Mandela, who was present at last week's hostile Mandela clan family meeting, said the court battle dividing the Mandela family was a painful matter. Mandela, who is critically ill, has expressed his wish to be buried in Qunu.