Mthatha , South Africa ( CNN ) -- Nelson Mandela 's grandson lost a court battle Wednesday against other members of his family over where three of the former South African leader 's deceased children should be buried . A judge in Mthatha , South Africa , dismissed an application by Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela , which means the grandson must return the remains of the three Mandela relatives to their graves in Qunu . The grandson , also known as Mandla , is accused of exhuming and relocating the bodies in 2011 to Mvezo , Nelson Mandela 's birthplace . He issued a statement saying he 'll abide by the court decision but continue `` to fight for his right to put on record his side of the story . '' A statement issued on Mandla 's behalf said he is `` disappointed that to date he has not been granted an opportunity to respond to the court order granted against him by the Mthatha High Court . He has maintained that the papers were not properly served on him and therefore he has as a result been denied the right to respond to the contents of the court application against him . '' The court battle played out as Nelson Mandela remains in critical condition at a Pretoria hospital .
The court says Mandela 's grandson must return family remains to Qunu . Mandla Mandela says he 'll abide by the ruling . Comment: