Nelson Mandela’s grandson has been accused of  illegal grave tampering and moving the bodies of relatives from the family burial plot.

Sixteen relatives have taken Mandla Mandela  to court after he reburied the remains of  three of the 94-year-old statesman’s children in his birthplace of Mvezo in 2011.

The family feud has increased of late and  criminal charges were filed today against Mandla Mandela, as his grandfather  remained in a critical condition in hospital.

Sixteen relatives have pressed charges against Mandla,  pictured centre. Makaziwe  Mandela, daughter of the former South African can be  seen left along with granddaughter Ndileka Mandela, right, in  court today

Mandla Mandela reburied the remains of three of the  94-year-old statesman’s children in his birthplace of Mvezo in 2011. The Mandela  relatives claim Mandla Mandela had not sought permission or even informed family  members when he did so. Mandla is also said to be opening a hotel in Mvezo, a  location popular with tourists

Mandla (left) is officially chief of the Mandela clan.  His grandfather (right) remains in a critical condition in hospital today. The  illegal grave tampering case is expected to last until tomorrow

The Mandela relatives claim Mandla Mandela  had not sought permission or even informed family members when he did so.

The revered statesman has long said that he  wants to be buried in Qunu, where his children were buried in the family plot.

Mandla Mandela moved the children’s remains  to Mvezo, where he plans to open a hotel.

Arguments were heard Tuesday over a court  order calling for the bodies to be returned to Qunu.

The case is expected to last until tomorrow.

Meanwhile, police said criminal charges of  ‘tampering with a grave’ have been pressed against Mandla Mandela over the  exhumation of the three bodies.

Mandela wants to be buried in Qunu (pictured) and his  family are trying to get the bodies returned

‘A case is opened at the police station and  we will now investigate that case,’ said police Lt. Col. Mzukisi Fatyela, who  declined to reveal who pressed the charges.

Nelson Mandela was taken to a Pretoria  hospital on June 8 for a recurring lung infection.

Since then, there has been a groundswell of  concern in South Africa and around the world for the man who spent 27 years as a  prisoner under apartheid and then emerged to negotiate an end to white racist  rule before becoming president.

Authorities also have announced that former  President F.W. de Klerk, who shared the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela, is  also in ill health and must be fitted with a pacemaker.

De Klerk is the last leader of South Africa’s  apartheid era and freed Mandela from prison before going on to serve as his  deputy president.

A Cape Town-based foundation named after  77-year-old de Klerk said the former president felt dizzy after returning home  on Sunday from a trip to Europe, and consulted his specialist on Monday.

South Africa President Jacob Zuma released a  statement wishing the former leader a speedy recovery.

On Saturday, the foundation issued a  statement on behalf of de Klerk and his wife Elita, saying they had  decided to  suspend a working visit and vacation in Europe because  Mandela is critically  ill, and that they were praying for an improvement in the health of the  anti-apartheid leader.

De Klerk, a former education minister who had  backed segregated schooling, was a key figure in a delicate transition that  turned out to be  relatively peaceful despite fears of widespread racial  conflict.

In 1990, a year after becoming South Africa’s  president, he announced he was legalizing the African National Congress, the  banned group that led the anti-apartheid movement, and would free  Mandela.

Former South African President FW De Klerk, who shared  Mandela’s Nobel prize, has been fitted with a pacemaker

De Klerk received the Nobel prize  along with  Mandela for his reformist initiatives and effectively  negotiating himself out  of power.

De Klerk later served as a deputy president  during Mandela’s single five-year term as president.

Since his retirement from political life, he  has traveled widely and delivered lectures.

His foundation says its mission is to help  poor and disabled children, contribute to conflict resolution and uphold South  Africa’s constitution, which robustly supports the protection of human rights.

Last year, Mandela’s archivists and Google  announced a project to digitally preserve a record of Mandela’s life.

In one online video, de Klerk recalled being  asked to address parliament alongside Mandela in 2004.

It was the 10th anniversary of the day  Mandela became president. Mandela took de Klerk’s arm as lawmakers applauded.

‘It is, if you now look back, a symbol of how  reconciliation can manifest itself,’ de Klerk said, reflecting on his encounter  with Mandela.

Read more: DailyMail