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By Freeman Makopa

Mandela family has called on some of its family members not to intimidate or undermine his widow Graca Machel.

This followed after some unconfirmed reports that some members of the Mandela family want Mrs Machel to leave the home she had shared with him in Johannesburg. The AbaThembu royal family spokesman said that Mrs Machel should not be subjected to abusive language or threats.

It said it had learned from six sources inside and outside the Mandela household that Mrs Machel had been told to leave the house in Johannesburg’s upmarket Houghton suburb as soon as Mr Mandela died.

AbaThembu royal family spokesman Daludumo Mtirara said that Mrs Machel was currently in mourning and should be shown respect and that her husband’s death did not bring to an end their love.

“Mr Mandela’s death did not “terminate his commitment” to her, he added.

“Nkosikazi Nosizwe Graca Machel remains the umbrella of the Mandela family and members of the family who do not respect her must refrain from that trend because it is a disgrace that undermines our custom,” Mr Mtirara said.

“We do not doubt her contribution in the later years of the world icon,” he added.

Mr Mandela married Mrs Machel, the wife of Mozambique’s late President Samora Machel, on his 80th birthday on 18 July 1998.

He had been married twice before, to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and the late Evelyn Mase.However, Mr Mtirara said the royal family recognised Mr Mandela’s grandson Mandla as the most senior member of the family.

Makziwe and Mandla were involved in a bitter dispute over the reburial of some of Mandela’s relatives in June.

Mandela was born into the AbaThembu royal family, and in 2007 endorsed the appointment of Mandla as a traditional chief.

Mrs Madikizela-Mandela was prominent at services to honour Mr Mandela, even though he divorced her in 1996, saying their relationship had broken down.

While Mandela was seriously ill earlier this year, some of his children and grandchildren became embroiled in disputes for control of his legacy and estate.

Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, died on 5 December, he was buried on 15 December at his village, Qunu, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province and is survived by children and grandchildren from these two marriages.

Mr Mandela was respected across the world for his role in fighting white minority rule, and promoting reconciliation after becoming president in 1994.

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