PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma intends to oppose the urgent application moved by AbaThembu King Buyelakhaya Dalindyebo in the Mthatha High Court.
This comes after Dalindyebo last week approached the court seeking to interdict Zuma from dethroning him. The king said the interdict was necessary because Zuma’s procedure was incorrect.
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Pravin Gordhan and his provincial counterpart MEC Fikile Xasa, royal family member Thanduxolo Mtirara and Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle were also cited as respondents in the matter.
Mtirara is the leader of a “concerned group” of AbaThembu royal family members who initially wrote to Zuma asking him to dethrone Dalindyebo.
Acting judge Justin Laing ruled that Dalindyebo’s urgent application would be heard on September 5 and that if the respondents intended to oppose it they should file before August 29.
The office of the state attorney in Mthatha filed a notice last Friday to oppose the matter on behalf of the respondents. On Monday another set of papers was filed in the Mthatha High Court by the state’s attorney to indicate withdrawal on Mtirara’s behalf, which effectively means the state attorney’s office is not representing him.
Contacted for comment yesterday Mtirara said he had not yet decided how to proceed in the matter.
“At this point in time I am still reading the papers and I am also still consulting with my lawyer. I have not yet made a decision about my intentions. I am also aware of the deadline to file papers if I intend to oppose the matter,” he said.
In 2012 the Dispatch published an article detailing the contents of a letter sent to Zuma’s office laying out a number of complaints against the king. The group accused Dalindyebo of smoking dagga in the presence of senior members of the family and of speaking publicly about his sexual interest in some of his female relatives.
Last month Zuma wrote to Dalindyebo giving him 30 days to respond with reasons why he should not have his certificate of recognition taken away.
But Dalindyebo hit back saying Zuma’s conduct was improper because the “concerned group” did not represent the AbaThembu nation.
He also said Zuma had ulterior motives because he was unhappy about the king’s public move from the ANC to the DA.
The Dispatch yesterday reliably learnt that a trust account had been opened to fund the king’s legal fees.
This was confirmed by Nkosi Mfundo Mtirara, Dalindyebo’s spokesman, who said anyone wanting to support the king could make deposits into the account.
“The money will be for the litigation of the case interdicting the president. We have been receiving a lot of support with calls, messages, visits to the Bumbane Great Place and on social networks and we appreciate that very much,” he said.
Mtirara would not say how much money had been raised so far.
“The money is for the case involving President Zuma. If any money is available it will be used for the king’s criminal matter.” — siyab@dispatch.co.za
Zuma to fight king’s latest court application
This comes after Dalindyebo last week approached the court seeking to interdict Zuma from dethroning him. The king said the interdict was necessary because Zuma’s procedure was incorrect.
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Pravin Gordhan and his provincial counterpart MEC Fikile Xasa, royal family member Thanduxolo Mtirara and Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle were also cited as respondents in the matter.
Mtirara is the leader of a “concerned group” of AbaThembu royal family members who initially wrote to Zuma asking him to dethrone Dalindyebo.
Acting judge Justin Laing ruled that Dalindyebo’s urgent application would be heard on September 5 and that if the respondents intended to oppose it they should file before August 29.
The office of the state attorney in Mthatha filed a notice last Friday to oppose the matter on behalf of the respondents. On Monday another set of papers was filed in the Mthatha High Court by the state’s attorney to indicate withdrawal on Mtirara’s behalf, which effectively means the state attorney’s office is not representing him.
Contacted for comment yesterday Mtirara said he had not yet decided how to proceed in the matter.
“At this point in time I am still reading the papers and I am also still consulting with my lawyer. I have not yet made a decision about my intentions. I am also aware of the deadline to file papers if I intend to oppose the matter,” he said.
In 2012 the Dispatch published an article detailing the contents of a letter sent to Zuma’s office laying out a number of complaints against the king. The group accused Dalindyebo of smoking dagga in the presence of senior members of the family and of speaking publicly about his sexual interest in some of his female relatives.
Last month Zuma wrote to Dalindyebo giving him 30 days to respond with reasons why he should not have his certificate of recognition taken away.
But Dalindyebo hit back saying Zuma’s conduct was improper because the “concerned group” did not represent the AbaThembu nation.
He also said Zuma had ulterior motives because he was unhappy about the king’s public move from the ANC to the DA.
The Dispatch yesterday reliably learnt that a trust account had been opened to fund the king’s legal fees.
This was confirmed by Nkosi Mfundo Mtirara, Dalindyebo’s spokesman, who said anyone wanting to support the king could make deposits into the account.
“The money will be for the litigation of the case interdicting the president. We have been receiving a lot of support with calls, messages, visits to the Bumbane Great Place and on social networks and we appreciate that very much,” he said.
Mtirara would not say how much money had been raised so far.
“The money is for the case involving President Zuma. If any money is available it will be used for the king’s criminal matter.” — siyab@dispatch.co.za
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