Thembu king Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has denied he is considering dumping the DA and going back to the ANC.
He was reacting to a report in a weekend paper claiming he was having secret talks with top ANC leaders who want to lure him back to the ruling party.
The report mentioned a planned meeting with ANC president Jacob that was likely to speed up the king’s defection back to the ANC.
Dalindyebo said the reports were “over-elasticised” and part of “cheap gossiping”.
“I will never return to the ANC,” said the outspoken king during a telephone interview with the Dispatch late yesterday.
“I am still fully DA and very comfortable,” said Dalindyebo.
The weekend reports made reference to a meeting the Thembu king held with Zuma at his Nkandla home last December where he apologised to Zuma for his earlier utterances. He had earlier called Zuma a “Zulu boy” and a “liar”.
He said his visit to Nkandla last December did not imply he had doubts about the DA.
He said speculation about him dumping the DA for the ANC could be caused by talks he is having with the party’s government leaders on a multimillion-rand roads upgrade at the great place in Bumbane.
“I think these reports emanate from engagements we’ve had with ruling party members about the road project and the apology . I don’t intend to change my political stance whatsoever,” said Dalindyebo.
He said although some of his complaints were being addressed, the ruling party and opposition parties had “two cultures” of governance. He said the ANC and the DA were two different organisations separated by “two” cultures.
He accused the ANC of being more concerned about personalities while the DA puts more emphasis on merit, an approach which the king is very pleased with.
Dalindyebo said the rumours aimed at portraying a picture of a desperate king, and “I’m not”.
City Press reported that Zuma was supposed to visit the king a few weeks ago, but the xenophobic attacks had erupted and the president had to shelve the trip.
Dalindyebo confirmed that Zuma was due to pay him a visit, but not last month. He said this was a return visit following his own visit to Nkandla last December. “The visit is not about campaigning for my return back to the ANC. It is no licence for my return,” he said.
“All I want is service delivery, equal treatment and equal opportunities. If they do that then we will be very pleased.
“But we don’t have to go back to . Talking to you does not make me a journalist, as much as talking to the ANC does not make me an ANC member.” — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
Thembu king denies cosying up to Zuma
He was reacting to a report in a weekend paper claiming he was having secret talks with top ANC leaders who want to lure him back to the ruling party.
The report mentioned a planned meeting with ANC president Jacob that was likely to speed up the king’s defection back to the ANC.
Dalindyebo said the reports were “over-elasticised” and part of “cheap gossiping”.
“I will never return to the ANC,” said the outspoken king during a telephone interview with the Dispatch late yesterday.
“I am still fully DA and very comfortable,” said Dalindyebo.
The weekend reports made reference to a meeting the Thembu king held with Zuma at his Nkandla home last December where he apologised to Zuma for his earlier utterances. He had earlier called Zuma a “Zulu boy” and a “liar”.
He said his visit to Nkandla last December did not imply he had doubts about the DA.
He said speculation about him dumping the DA for the ANC could be caused by talks he is having with the party’s government leaders on a multimillion-rand roads upgrade at the great place in Bumbane.
“I think these reports emanate from engagements we’ve had with ruling party members about the road project and the apology . I don’t intend to change my political stance whatsoever,” said Dalindyebo.
He said although some of his complaints were being addressed, the ruling party and opposition parties had “two cultures” of governance. He said the ANC and the DA were two different organisations separated by “two” cultures.
He accused the ANC of being more concerned about personalities while the DA puts more emphasis on merit, an approach which the king is very pleased with.
Dalindyebo said the rumours aimed at portraying a picture of a desperate king, and “I’m not”.
City Press reported that Zuma was supposed to visit the king a few weeks ago, but the xenophobic attacks had erupted and the president had to shelve the trip.
Dalindyebo confirmed that Zuma was due to pay him a visit, but not last month. He said this was a return visit following his own visit to Nkandla last December. “The visit is not about campaigning for my return back to the ANC. It is no licence for my return,” he said.
“All I want is service delivery, equal treatment and equal opportunities. If they do that then we will be very pleased.
“But we don’t have to go back to . Talking to you does not make me a journalist, as much as talking to the ANC does not make me an ANC member.” — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
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