KING Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo is preparing to snub Nelson Mandela’s funeral if President Jacob Zuma is there.
According to those close to the AbaThembu king, he refuses to share a stage with Zuma.
It would not be the first time Dalindyebo has boycotted a funeral. He missed the funerals of his mother, brother and one of his wives.
A royal aide said another reason Dalindyebo wanted to skip the funeral was plans by Mandela’s grandson Mandla to host traditional leaders in Mvezo – where Mandela was born – today, when he is neither a king nor the heir of the family’s clan. “The king does not understand how Mandla can invite kings and chiefs to Mvezo as if it is the royal palace.
“It is the duty of the king to handle such things.
“He is not even the heir of AmaDlomo; the king is supposed to handle all issues pertaining to the royal preparations of the funeral.”
The Dispatch was reliably informed that Nkwinti went to tell the king that the road leading to Bumbane would be paved. But the move backfired because Dalindyebo refused to meet with Nkwinti.
“He said he does not understand how Nkwinti can come to tell him about service delivery when he is mourning the passing of Madiba.”
When Sisulu arrived at 5pm Dalindyebo was asleep.
The king’s spokesman Mfundo Mtirara said Dalindyebo would hold a press conference tomorrow to tell the media whether or not he would attend the funeral. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za / lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Push to get king to funeral
According to those close to the AbaThembu king, he refuses to share a stage with Zuma.
It would not be the first time Dalindyebo has boycotted a funeral. He missed the funerals of his mother, brother and one of his wives.
A royal aide said another reason Dalindyebo wanted to skip the funeral was plans by Mandela’s grandson Mandla to host traditional leaders in Mvezo – where Mandela was born – today, when he is neither a king nor the heir of the family’s clan. “The king does not understand how Mandla can invite kings and chiefs to Mvezo as if it is the royal palace.
“It is the duty of the king to handle such things.
“He is not even the heir of AmaDlomo; the king is supposed to handle all issues pertaining to the royal preparations of the funeral.”
The Dispatch was reliably informed that Nkwinti went to tell the king that the road leading to Bumbane would be paved. But the move backfired because Dalindyebo refused to meet with Nkwinti.
“He said he does not understand how Nkwinti can come to tell him about service delivery when he is mourning the passing of Madiba.”
When Sisulu arrived at 5pm Dalindyebo was asleep.
The king’s spokesman Mfundo Mtirara said Dalindyebo would hold a press conference tomorrow to tell the media whether or not he would attend the funeral. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za / lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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