Jailed AbaThembu royal Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has ordered nullification of all meetings convened by his family and the AmaDlomo royal clan relating to his successor and calling for withdrawal of his certificate of kingship.
Several meetings have been held at the Bumbane Great Place, including one on Sunday where his eldest son Prince Azenathi Zanelizwe Dalindyebo was confirmed as acting king.
Dalindyebo, who is recovering in an East London hospital following a self-imposed hunger strike, conveyed his message through his siblings, Patrick Dalindyebo and Ndileka Dalindyebo-Dlamini, his wife Queen Nokwanda and former spokeswoman Phumla Matshaya.
“He has ordered that Bumbane great place be locked up and that all his siblings vacate it as he does not want his family to be manipulated by mischievous meetings and people,” said Dalindyebo-Dlamini.
“It’s the king’s order and we just convey it to the nation.
“We will not dilute it with our own thoughts. The king has spoken.”
Dalindyebo had said the meeting that decided on the 23-year-old prince was “illegal”.
He had wanted his wife, Queen Nokwanda, to be appointed acting head of the nation. However, in October he introduced Azenathi to the AbaThembu nation as their acting king if he had to go to jail.
The royal family and siblings have been divided over who should lead since Dalindyebo started serving his 12-year prison sentence.
There are three groups – one supporting Azenathi, one in favour of Queen Nokwanda and a third that wants Dalindyebo’s brother, Prince Mthandeki Mankuku Dalindyebo, to be acting king.
A group opposing the king met on January 4 at Bumbane great place and decided to request that the government withdraw the certificate of kingship in recognition of Dalindyebo.
Dalindyebo-Dlamini said: “The king says being in jail does not mean that he is dead. He remains a king of AbaThembu, an heir of the late King Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo.”
Thanduxolo Mtirara, who is part of a faction of the royal family opposed to the king, said they would not take orders from Dalindyebo.
“We don’t account to him, a prisoner. We do not need his blessing to hold meetings and he cannot therefore nullify them.
“He can nullify those of the group that report to him and take orders from a prisoner.”
He said they would continue meeting at Bumbane great place as it was not Dalindyebo’s private residence. “We are just waiting for the government to withdraw his certificate of recognition.”
National Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) director-general Dr Charles Nwaila last week said because Dalindyebo was being incarcerated for more than 12 months without option of a fine, “technically and by law he is no longer a king, but the government cannot pronounce on that before due processes are done by the royal family”.
Asked what authority Dalindyebo had while in jail, Cogta provincial spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said it was a family matter. “As government we do not want to be involved in succession deliberations within the royal family. We are waiting for the royal family to unanimously come with a successor.”
AbaThembu spokesman Chief Mfundo Mtirara, who is from a faction supporting Dalindyebo, said: “We don’t argue with the king, especially in the media. However, AmaDlomo and AbaThembu as the nation, according to custom, cannot be ignored. They have spoken.”
Jailed king ‘nullifies’ succession talks
Several meetings have been held at the Bumbane Great Place, including one on Sunday where his eldest son Prince Azenathi Zanelizwe Dalindyebo was confirmed as acting king.
Dalindyebo, who is recovering in an East London hospital following a self-imposed hunger strike, conveyed his message through his siblings, Patrick Dalindyebo and Ndileka Dalindyebo-Dlamini, his wife Queen Nokwanda and former spokeswoman Phumla Matshaya.
“He has ordered that Bumbane great place be locked up and that all his siblings vacate it as he does not want his family to be manipulated by mischievous meetings and people,” said Dalindyebo-Dlamini.
“It’s the king’s order and we just convey it to the nation.
“We will not dilute it with our own thoughts. The king has spoken.”
Dalindyebo had said the meeting that decided on the 23-year-old prince was “illegal”.
He had wanted his wife, Queen Nokwanda, to be appointed acting head of the nation. However, in October he introduced Azenathi to the AbaThembu nation as their acting king if he had to go to jail.
The royal family and siblings have been divided over who should lead since Dalindyebo started serving his 12-year prison sentence.
There are three groups – one supporting Azenathi, one in favour of Queen Nokwanda and a third that wants Dalindyebo’s brother, Prince Mthandeki Mankuku Dalindyebo, to be acting king.
A group opposing the king met on January 4 at Bumbane great place and decided to request that the government withdraw the certificate of kingship in recognition of Dalindyebo.
Dalindyebo-Dlamini said: “The king says being in jail does not mean that he is dead. He remains a king of AbaThembu, an heir of the late King Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo.”
Thanduxolo Mtirara, who is part of a faction of the royal family opposed to the king, said they would not take orders from Dalindyebo.
“We don’t account to him, a prisoner. We do not need his blessing to hold meetings and he cannot therefore nullify them.
“He can nullify those of the group that report to him and take orders from a prisoner.”
He said they would continue meeting at Bumbane great place as it was not Dalindyebo’s private residence. “We are just waiting for the government to withdraw his certificate of recognition.”
National Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) director-general Dr Charles Nwaila last week said because Dalindyebo was being incarcerated for more than 12 months without option of a fine, “technically and by law he is no longer a king, but the government cannot pronounce on that before due processes are done by the royal family”.
Asked what authority Dalindyebo had while in jail, Cogta provincial spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said it was a family matter. “As government we do not want to be involved in succession deliberations within the royal family. We are waiting for the royal family to unanimously come with a successor.”
AbaThembu spokesman Chief Mfundo Mtirara, who is from a faction supporting Dalindyebo, said: “We don’t argue with the king, especially in the media. However, AmaDlomo and AbaThembu as the nation, according to custom, cannot be ignored. They have spoken.”
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