AbaThembu king Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo yesterday said the judge who sentenced him deserved lashes on his buttocks and that former president Nelson Mandela had conspired to have him dethroned and jailed.
Dalindyebo, addressing hundreds of AbaThembu at his Bumbane Great Place near Mthatha, said Mvezo Chief Mandla Mandela was now continuing his grandfather’s efforts to see him jailed and dethroned.
He also hit out at the judiciary saying: “The judge who sentenced me cannot go scot free. If the judge can come here he can definitely be sentenced to five lashes on his buttocks. The punishment he deserves is five good lashes on his buttocks.”
He said senior police officers had been used by Madiba to revive the case after it had been in limbo for years.
“Nelson Mandela used top brass police officer Jackie Selebi to revive my case and ensure that I am arrested, prosecuted, and convicted for their own personal interests. “They plotted my downfall and my dethronement but they will never succeed,” Dalindyebo said.
The meeting was arranged to discuss Dalindyebo’s constitutional court appeal and funding thereof by AbaThembu – as well as his successor to his throne.
“I will always myself and speak my mind. Rholihlahla wanted me jailed and dethroned. They will not succeed and I will be a king in jail and in death.”
Dalindyebo said it did not surprise him that Mandla and some royal family members, including Daludumo Mtirara and his brother, Thanduxolo Mtirara, were allegedly working together to destabilise the royal family and the AbaThembu and portray him as a criminal.
Dalindyebo alleged the judiciary had not been objective and had been used by other people to achieve their personal interests. He claimed the South African government did not have regard for customary law but only honoured and respected common law on deciding matters that affect traditional community.
The king has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for arson, defeating the ends of justice and kidnapping.
He was acquitted on a culpable homicide charge in relation to the death of Saziso Wofa.
“I will not rest until the killers of Saziso are arrested. His killers were not arrested because they were friends of the state, judges and friends of the Mandelas.”
The king is expected according to the law, to hand himself over to prison within 14 days after he was convicted almost two weeks ago. “But I will not hand over myself to prison. I am not defying the court, but Wofa’s killers must first be arrested,” the king said.
Dalindyebo said his son, Azenathi Zanelizwe Dalindyebo, 23, would act as king while he was in jail. Dalindyebo stressed that Azenathi was not his heir.
The AbaThembu welcomed and endorsed Azenathi’s nomination as acting king.
To the surprise of all, the king spoke in conciliatory tones about Zuma. “In the past I used to unnecessarily attack President Zuma but I later learnt that I was barking up the wrong tree. I regret my utterances. Even about Nkandla, Zuma has not stolen any money; he’s innocent. Forgive me my commander, forgive me my president,” Dalindyebo said.
The king spoke approvingly about the Democratic Alliance saying he understood why his membership had been withdrawn. “I joined knowing that the DA constitution says that membership ceases when anyone faces a criminal charge.”
He said he would not go back to the ANC but would focus on church matters.
Defiant Dalindyebo: judge needs five lashes
Dalindyebo, addressing hundreds of AbaThembu at his Bumbane Great Place near Mthatha, said Mvezo Chief Mandla Mandela was now continuing his grandfather’s efforts to see him jailed and dethroned.
He also hit out at the judiciary saying: “The judge who sentenced me cannot go scot free. If the judge can come here he can definitely be sentenced to five lashes on his buttocks. The punishment he deserves is five good lashes on his buttocks.”
He said senior police officers had been used by Madiba to revive the case after it had been in limbo for years.
“Nelson Mandela used top brass police officer Jackie Selebi to revive my case and ensure that I am arrested, prosecuted, and convicted for their own personal interests. “They plotted my downfall and my dethronement but they will never succeed,” Dalindyebo said.
The meeting was arranged to discuss Dalindyebo’s constitutional court appeal and funding thereof by AbaThembu – as well as his successor to his throne.
“I will always myself and speak my mind. Rholihlahla wanted me jailed and dethroned. They will not succeed and I will be a king in jail and in death.”
Dalindyebo said it did not surprise him that Mandla and some royal family members, including Daludumo Mtirara and his brother, Thanduxolo Mtirara, were allegedly working together to destabilise the royal family and the AbaThembu and portray him as a criminal.
Dalindyebo alleged the judiciary had not been objective and had been used by other people to achieve their personal interests. He claimed the South African government did not have regard for customary law but only honoured and respected common law on deciding matters that affect traditional community.
The king has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for arson, defeating the ends of justice and kidnapping.
He was acquitted on a culpable homicide charge in relation to the death of Saziso Wofa.
“I will not rest until the killers of Saziso are arrested. His killers were not arrested because they were friends of the state, judges and friends of the Mandelas.”
The king is expected according to the law, to hand himself over to prison within 14 days after he was convicted almost two weeks ago. “But I will not hand over myself to prison. I am not defying the court, but Wofa’s killers must first be arrested,” the king said.
Dalindyebo said his son, Azenathi Zanelizwe Dalindyebo, 23, would act as king while he was in jail. Dalindyebo stressed that Azenathi was not his heir.
The AbaThembu welcomed and endorsed Azenathi’s nomination as acting king.
To the surprise of all, the king spoke in conciliatory tones about Zuma. “In the past I used to unnecessarily attack President Zuma but I later learnt that I was barking up the wrong tree. I regret my utterances. Even about Nkandla, Zuma has not stolen any money; he’s innocent. Forgive me my commander, forgive me my president,” Dalindyebo said.
The king spoke approvingly about the Democratic Alliance saying he understood why his membership had been withdrawn. “I joined knowing that the DA constitution says that membership ceases when anyone faces a criminal charge.”
He said he would not go back to the ANC but would focus on church matters.
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