AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has interdicted President Jacob Zuma from taking any further steps in the withdrawal of his certificate of recognition as king.
Yesterday, Mthatha High Court Acting Judge Justine Laing granted the interim order.
Dalindyebo had approached the courts after receiving a letter from the president asking him to respond within 30 days on why he should not be dethroned.
Zuma’s letter had been a response to a letter from a grouping known as the AbaThembu Royal, who asked Zuma to dethrone Dalindyebo.
Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj could not be reached yesterday but the presidency had earlier indicated it would not challenge the court action by the king.
Yesterday, the group vowed to continue its fight.
Their campaign to remove Dalindyebo started as far back as 2012.
It has now started to hot up, with some commentators saying it could be motivated by Dalindyebo’s move to the Democratic Alliance.
In his application to the Mthatha High Court, Dalindyebo also wanted to interdict AbaThembu Royal Family chairman Thanduxolo Mtirara from making defamatory public statements against him.
The court, however, dismissed that part of the application with costs stating that Dalindyebo had failed to make “sufficient allegations to persuade the court that he has established a prima facie right ... in relation to conduct”.
The king’s spokesman Chief Bhovulengwe Mtirara said: “We have said the king is a king by birth and not by appointment.
“We are happy the judge confirmed that.”
A spokesman for the group opposing Dalindyebo, Daludumo Mtirara, said they were happy the king failed in his attempt to silence their voices. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
Zuma fails to dethrone king
Yesterday, Mthatha High Court Acting Judge Justine Laing granted the interim order.
Dalindyebo had approached the courts after receiving a letter from the president asking him to respond within 30 days on why he should not be dethroned.
Zuma’s letter had been a response to a letter from a grouping known as the AbaThembu Royal, who asked Zuma to dethrone Dalindyebo.
Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj could not be reached yesterday but the presidency had earlier indicated it would not challenge the court action by the king.
Yesterday, the group vowed to continue its fight.
Their campaign to remove Dalindyebo started as far back as 2012.
It has now started to hot up, with some commentators saying it could be motivated by Dalindyebo’s move to the Democratic Alliance.
In his application to the Mthatha High Court, Dalindyebo also wanted to interdict AbaThembu Royal Family chairman Thanduxolo Mtirara from making defamatory public statements against him.
The court, however, dismissed that part of the application with costs stating that Dalindyebo had failed to make “sufficient allegations to persuade the court that he has established a prima facie right ... in relation to conduct”.
The king’s spokesman Chief Bhovulengwe Mtirara said: “We have said the king is a king by birth and not by appointment.
“We are happy the judge confirmed that.”
A spokesman for the group opposing Dalindyebo, Daludumo Mtirara, said they were happy the king failed in his attempt to silence their voices. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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