The abaThembu royal family on Friday said all decisions taken by former president Nelson Mandela must be respected, broadcaster eNCA reported.
"It's a family issue and we have taken a view which says we cannot change the decisions of the late man," said Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, chairman of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders.
"We have got to respect that, even if we don't want his decision, even if we disagree with it, we cannot change that."
About 20 elders discussed family matters, which were not disclosed.
The meeting between the Mandela family and the abaThembu clan was called by Mandela's grandson Mandla to resolve apparent infighting in the family. It was held at Mandela's family home in Qunu, Eastern Cape.
On Tuesday, Mandela's ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela tried to stop the meeting because she feared violence could erupt. Her application to the High Court in Mthatha was struck off the roll as she did not own the Qunu property, as she had claimed. She was instructed to pay costs.
Mandla reportedly said the meeting would go ahead and that the men of the family would try to unite the various factions, as his grandfather would have wanted.
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