The heirs of former South African President Nelson Mandela are now squabbling over the broadcast rights to his funeral, even as he clings to life in hospital.

In 2008, the anti-apartheid icon’s grandson and designated heir Mandla sold the rights to the funeral to South Africa’s state broadcaster SABC.  But that apparently has been cancelled by the same court ruling that forced Mandla to return the bodies of three family members that he had exhumed from the family plot and moved onto his property where he is building a hotel and entertainment complex.

The former president's eldest daughter Makaziwe Mandela has told the South African Broadcasting Corporation and government officials last month that her faction demands “preferential” access for CNN, the American news network.  This is despite the BBC spending months advising the South Africans how to handle an huge international live television event.

CNN denies paying for access.  But it Makaziwe’s plan goes through, CNN will be the only broadcaster with its own crew inside the Mandela compound.  The rest of the world's media will be forced to rely on a live feed from the SABC.

94-year old Nelson Mandela remains hospitalized and on life support with a lung infection.