Jailed AbaThembu King Buyele- khaya Dalindyebo is hopeful President Jacob Zuma will grant him a presidential pardon.
This is according to Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) provincial chairman Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, who visited the king in hospital last week to update him on the status of a lodged pardon application.
“We spoke at length about matters of interest to including people who are assisting us in achieving his freedom,” Nonkonyana said.
“He was happy about the progress report when we saw him in hospital. He seemed appreciative and was hopeful that he will be pardoned. We pledged our solidarity with him.”
The congress, according to Nonkonyana, was waiting for the Justice Ministry’s ruling on their request for the presidential pardon.
“We were hoping to get a response this week but we understand the minister might be busy because of the opening of parliament, so we hope to hear from him sometime next week.
“The Presidency assured us two weeks ago that the pardon application was being looked into. We were really hoping to have some news of progress for the king this week but we will wait,” he said.
Justice Ministry spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga confirmed the pardon plea was still being assessed.
“We don’t have a timeframe regarding when we will complete looking at it,” Mhaga said. “The application is being treated as an ordinary presidential pardon application.”
Dalindyebo will spend his 26th day in hospital today as he continues to battle chronic ulcers and depression. The 51-year-old monarch is under the care of Dr Siyolo Solombela at the East London Private Hospital in Albany Street, where an Eastern Cape correctional services van is stationed outside.
Solombela yesterday said he was not at liberty to disclose the health status of the king.
“I am updating his family. I don’t update media people,” Solombela said when contacted for comment.
Correctional services commissioner Nkosinathi Breakfast said Dalindyebo was under 24-hour guard and officials were always on the lookout for unwanted or late visitors.
“While the king is at liberty to decide who visits him in hospital or not, we have to make sure that this is done under specified visiting hours for his safety and security,” Breakfast said.
Nonkonyana said their visit had come about after an application was made through correctional services.
He said members of Contralesa remained concerned over Dalindyebo’s incarceration.
“He should not have spent a single day in prison. We indicated as far back as last year that the president needed to intervene in this matter,” Nonkonyana said, adding the king was receiving better treatment in hospital.
“He is responding well to treatment. We remain very concerned about his health and we have encouraged him to be strong under these circumstances.
“He was happy that we were doing something as Contralesa.”
Dalindyebo is serving a 12-year prison sentence for assault, kidnapping and arson, and was taken to the East London Maximum Prison.
He collapsed in his prison cell on January 17 and was rushed to hospital for the second time since his prison term began on December 31.
Bid for presidential pardon as king still in hospital
This is according to Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) provincial chairman Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, who visited the king in hospital last week to update him on the status of a lodged pardon application.
“We spoke at length about matters of interest to including people who are assisting us in achieving his freedom,” Nonkonyana said.
“He was happy about the progress report when we saw him in hospital. He seemed appreciative and was hopeful that he will be pardoned. We pledged our solidarity with him.”
The congress, according to Nonkonyana, was waiting for the Justice Ministry’s ruling on their request for the presidential pardon.
“We were hoping to get a response this week but we understand the minister might be busy because of the opening of parliament, so we hope to hear from him sometime next week.
“The Presidency assured us two weeks ago that the pardon application was being looked into. We were really hoping to have some news of progress for the king this week but we will wait,” he said.
Justice Ministry spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga confirmed the pardon plea was still being assessed.
“We don’t have a timeframe regarding when we will complete looking at it,” Mhaga said. “The application is being treated as an ordinary presidential pardon application.”
Dalindyebo will spend his 26th day in hospital today as he continues to battle chronic ulcers and depression. The 51-year-old monarch is under the care of Dr Siyolo Solombela at the East London Private Hospital in Albany Street, where an Eastern Cape correctional services van is stationed outside.
Solombela yesterday said he was not at liberty to disclose the health status of the king.
“I am updating his family. I don’t update media people,” Solombela said when contacted for comment.
Correctional services commissioner Nkosinathi Breakfast said Dalindyebo was under 24-hour guard and officials were always on the lookout for unwanted or late visitors.
“While the king is at liberty to decide who visits him in hospital or not, we have to make sure that this is done under specified visiting hours for his safety and security,” Breakfast said.
Nonkonyana said their visit had come about after an application was made through correctional services.
He said members of Contralesa remained concerned over Dalindyebo’s incarceration.
“He should not have spent a single day in prison. We indicated as far back as last year that the president needed to intervene in this matter,” Nonkonyana said, adding the king was receiving better treatment in hospital.
“He is responding well to treatment. We remain very concerned about his health and we have encouraged him to be strong under these circumstances.
“He was happy that we were doing something as Contralesa.”
Dalindyebo is serving a 12-year prison sentence for assault, kidnapping and arson, and was taken to the East London Maximum Prison.
He collapsed in his prison cell on January 17 and was rushed to hospital for the second time since his prison term began on December 31.
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