PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has given abaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo 30 days to argue why he should remain king.
This follows attempts by members of Dalindyebo’s family – led by Nkosi Thanduxolo Mtirara – to have him removed as king. The family wrote to Zuma in 2012.
In a letter seen by the Dispatch, Zuma quotes the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act of 2003 for grounds on which a king can be removed.
“According to the Act … the royal family decides to remove a king or queen, the royal family must, within a reasonable time and through the relevant customary structure, inform the president…,” the letter read. “The family must also give reasons for such removal.”
Zuma then gave Dalindyebo 30 days to “provide me with written representation on why I should not withdraw a certificate recognizing you as a king of the abaThembu”.
The Dispatch reported in 2012 that an abaThembu royal committee comprising 19 royal houses, including one led by Nelson Mandela’s grandson chief Mandla Mandela, wrote to Zuma, then Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Richard Baloyi, former premier Noxolo Kiviet and local government and traditional affairs MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, pleading with them to replace the king with someone whose conduct was befitting of the high office.
The royal family’s acting chairman, Mtirara said at the time that what had sparked the outrage was the king’s failure to show commitment to the family when he cancelled plans to bring back the spirit of his late father and struggle stalwart King Sabatha Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo from Zambia. Sabatha Dalindyebo died in exile in Lusaka in 1986.
“The king has embarrassed the nation on many occasions, something that has left us with no choice but to remove him.
“We are discussing plans to relieve him of his duties with a new regent taking over the throne.
“This drastic action is a response to a series of embarrassing incidents by him that have seen the kingdom losing credibility,” said Mtirara.
The group also accuses the king of smoking dagga publicly in the presence of senior members of the family and publicly speaking of his sexual interest in some of his female relatives.
In recent years, Dalindyebo has been embroiled in lengthy court cases relating to a number of violent crimes, which include murder.
The Dispatch reported last year how Dalindyebo had snubbed the funeral of his fifth wife, Nolwazi, in an apparent protest against Bhisho’s inadequate contribution towards the sending-off of the late queen.
But royal family spokeswoman Phumla Matshaya defended the king, saying the allegations were not true, but admitted “he is not a saint”.
She confirmed the actions of the group, and admitted the group was pulling out all the stops to ensure Dalindyebo was dethroned.
But Matshaya said not all abaThembu supported the move.
“We have people led by Mtirara who are doing this and we have people who are with the king. There are divisions and this troubles the king.”
- There will be more on the story in the Saturday Dispatch tomorrow.
Zuma gives king ultimatum
This follows attempts by members of Dalindyebo’s family – led by Nkosi Thanduxolo Mtirara – to have him removed as king. The family wrote to Zuma in 2012.
In a letter seen by the Dispatch, Zuma quotes the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act of 2003 for grounds on which a king can be removed.
“According to the Act … the royal family decides to remove a king or queen, the royal family must, within a reasonable time and through the relevant customary structure, inform the president…,” the letter read. “The family must also give reasons for such removal.”
Zuma then gave Dalindyebo 30 days to “provide me with written representation on why I should not withdraw a certificate recognizing you as a king of the abaThembu”.
The Dispatch reported in 2012 that an abaThembu royal committee comprising 19 royal houses, including one led by Nelson Mandela’s grandson chief Mandla Mandela, wrote to Zuma, then Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Richard Baloyi, former premier Noxolo Kiviet and local government and traditional affairs MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, pleading with them to replace the king with someone whose conduct was befitting of the high office.
The royal family’s acting chairman, Mtirara said at the time that what had sparked the outrage was the king’s failure to show commitment to the family when he cancelled plans to bring back the spirit of his late father and struggle stalwart King Sabatha Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo from Zambia. Sabatha Dalindyebo died in exile in Lusaka in 1986.
“The king has embarrassed the nation on many occasions, something that has left us with no choice but to remove him.
“We are discussing plans to relieve him of his duties with a new regent taking over the throne.
“This drastic action is a response to a series of embarrassing incidents by him that have seen the kingdom losing credibility,” said Mtirara.
The group also accuses the king of smoking dagga publicly in the presence of senior members of the family and publicly speaking of his sexual interest in some of his female relatives.
In recent years, Dalindyebo has been embroiled in lengthy court cases relating to a number of violent crimes, which include murder.
The Dispatch reported last year how Dalindyebo had snubbed the funeral of his fifth wife, Nolwazi, in an apparent protest against Bhisho’s inadequate contribution towards the sending-off of the late queen.
But royal family spokeswoman Phumla Matshaya defended the king, saying the allegations were not true, but admitted “he is not a saint”.
She confirmed the actions of the group, and admitted the group was pulling out all the stops to ensure Dalindyebo was dethroned.
But Matshaya said not all abaThembu supported the move.
“We have people led by Mtirara who are doing this and we have people who are with the king. There are divisions and this troubles the king.”
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