Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo is no longer king. He has been stripped of his certificate of recognition as leader of the abaThembu nation.This was announced by local government and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa at a press conference in Mthatha yesterday.
“According to law – the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act – if a public office bearer is incarcerated for a period of 12 months without an option of fine, he or she is stripped of his or her status.
“This applies here. So he is no more a king,” said Xasa.
“The king is not appointed by the government, but the royal family. Ours is just to confirm and recognise the name given to us by the royal family emerging from their own deliberations,” said Xasa.
However, a successor has yet to be named.
And Xasa raised concerns yesterday about growing instability within the royal family, saying that it looked as if there were now three groupings with different approaches and plans on the succession.
“This is not what we envisage and wish as government.
“We want peace and harmony to prevail. We want a united royal family to emerge,” said Xasa.
Several press conferences took place over the weekend, held by the different groups.
One group, which refers to itself as the Royal Family of the Kingdom of abaThembu, is led by brothers Daludumo and Thanduxolo Mtirara, and is believed to be backing the king’s brother, Prince Jongisizwe Mthandeni Dalindyebo, also known as Mankunku, as successor.
Another group, made up of other siblings of the king, are believed to be advocating the king’s wife, Queen Nokwanda, as leader.
The third group, who are upholding a decision made by Dalindyebo in October, want the king’s son, Prince Avenathi, 23 and university student, to take over immediately.
This group includes Monwabisi Mtirara, a staunch supporter of the king. In October Dalindyebo pronounced his son as his successor.
Yesterday, members of the royal family opposing the king said they were not aware of any “decisions that had been taken” about a new leader.
And on Saturday they issued a statement warning of “external elements” who “continue to mislead some of the children of King Jonguhlanga Sabata Dalindyebo”.
“We want to put it on record that the overarching house, which has full authority to deal with the internal affairs of the kingdom in support of the Great House is King Ngangelizwe Royal Family,” said Daludumo Mtirara.
In a different press conference held by the king’s siblings at Nkululekweni private residents yesterday, Siganeko Dalindyebo said there were now four individuals vying for the throne.
However, he stressed that Dalindyebo would always be regarded as their king.
“He was born a king, he will remain a king and he will come out of jail a king,”said Siganeko Dalindyebo.
He lashed out at those who met with Xasa.
“This is disappointing that they hold a meeting with the government without consulting and involving the siblings of the king.
“The only thing we wanted from the government was for them to intervene and reconcile the feuding groupings, not that the government be a referee and a player at the same time,” said Siganeko Dalindyebo.
There are several planned meetings of AbaThembu this week:
lA group led by Daludumo will hold a meeting to discuss the incarceration of the king;
lOn Wednesday some of the king’s siblings will host a meeting of amaDlomo at the Bumbane Great Place;
lOn Thursday the traditional leaders of abaThembu are expected to attend a meeting organised by the siblings at the Great Place; and
lYesterday the siblings organised a meeting for the entire abaThembu nation.
Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo is in the East London Maximum security prison serving a 12-year sentence after the Concourt on December 2 dismissed his application for leave to appeal. For six years he has fought a conviction that resulted from violence he incited or personally inflicted against villagers under his jurisdiction between 1995 and 1996.
He approached the Concourt after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) earlier this year dismissed an appeal against his conviction for kidnapping, arson and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The SCA, however, had set aside his conviction for culpable homicide and reduced his sentence from 15 years to 12.
Dalindyebo is king no more
This was announced by local government and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa at a press conference in Mthatha yesterday.
“According to law – the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act – if a public office bearer is incarcerated for a period of 12 months without an option of fine, he or she is stripped of his or her status.
“This applies here. So he is no more a king,” said Xasa.
“The king is not appointed by the government, but the royal family. Ours is just to confirm and recognise the name given to us by the royal family emerging from their own deliberations,” said Xasa.
However, a successor has yet to be named.
And Xasa raised concerns yesterday about growing instability within the royal family, saying that it looked as if there were now three groupings with different approaches and plans on the succession.
“This is not what we envisage and wish as government.
“We want peace and harmony to prevail. We want a united royal family to emerge,” said Xasa.
Several press conferences took place over the weekend, held by the different groups.
One group, which refers to itself as the Royal Family of the Kingdom of abaThembu, is led by brothers Daludumo and Thanduxolo Mtirara, and is believed to be backing the king’s brother, Prince Jongisizwe Mthandeni Dalindyebo, also known as Mankunku, as successor.
Another group, made up of other siblings of the king, are believed to be advocating the king’s wife, Queen Nokwanda, as leader.
The third group, who are upholding a decision made by Dalindyebo in October, want the king’s son, Prince Avenathi, 23 and university student, to take over immediately.
This group includes Monwabisi Mtirara, a staunch supporter of the king. In October Dalindyebo pronounced his son as his successor.
Yesterday, members of the royal family opposing the king said they were not aware of any “decisions that had been taken” about a new leader.
And on Saturday they issued a statement warning of “external elements” who “continue to mislead some of the children of King Jonguhlanga Sabata Dalindyebo”.
“We want to put it on record that the overarching house, which has full authority to deal with the internal affairs of the kingdom in support of the Great House is King Ngangelizwe Royal Family,” said Daludumo Mtirara.
In a different press conference held by the king’s siblings at Nkululekweni private residents yesterday, Siganeko Dalindyebo said there were now four individuals vying for the throne.
However, he stressed that Dalindyebo would always be regarded as their king.
“He was born a king, he will remain a king and he will come out of jail a king,”said Siganeko Dalindyebo.
He lashed out at those who met with Xasa.
“This is disappointing that they hold a meeting with the government without consulting and involving the siblings of the king.
“The only thing we wanted from the government was for them to intervene and reconcile the feuding groupings, not that the government be a referee and a player at the same time,” said Siganeko Dalindyebo.
There are several planned meetings of AbaThembu this week:
lA group led by Daludumo will hold a meeting to discuss the incarceration of the king;
lOn Wednesday some of the king’s siblings will host a meeting of amaDlomo at the Bumbane Great Place;
lOn Thursday the traditional leaders of abaThembu are expected to attend a meeting organised by the siblings at the Great Place; and
lYesterday the siblings organised a meeting for the entire abaThembu nation.
Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo is in the East London Maximum security prison serving a 12-year sentence after the Concourt on December 2 dismissed his application for leave to appeal. For six years he has fought a conviction that resulted from violence he incited or personally inflicted against villagers under his jurisdiction between 1995 and 1996.
He approached the Concourt after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) earlier this year dismissed an appeal against his conviction for kidnapping, arson and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The SCA, however, had set aside his conviction for culpable homicide and reduced his sentence from 15 years to 12.
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