CONTROVERSIAL AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo nearly exchanged blows with mourners at a funeral at the weekend.
They were furious with him for publicly insulting one of his wives. It was the funeral of Ngwenyathi Joyi in Bhaziya near Mthatha on Saturday.
“She is a self-created chief and is imposing herself as one of the chiefs.
“My wife, please leave, leave I say, leave,” shouted Dalindyebo in front of more than 1000 mourners, including his other wife, Queen Nokwanda Dalindyebo.
Noluntu is a member of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders.
An irate Thanduxolo Mtirara, chairman of the AbaThembu Royal Council which is lobbying for the removal of Dalindyebo, stood up and shouted at the king: “Where do you want her to go? Why are you insulting her at this funeral? You are an embarrassment! She is going nowhere. You have made it your habit to use funerals as a platform to insult others. Not in this one!”
Mourners for and against Dalindyebo shouted and shoved each other and tried to manhandle the king.
Daludumo Mtirara leapt from his seat and grabbed the microphone from the king, whose righthand man, Jonas JJ Ndzambule, tried to separate the king and Daludumo while they tussled over the microphone.
Earlier the king lambasted the ANC, calling it a “nonsense” party, and accused legislature speaker and ANC national executive member Fikile Xasa and Siyakholwa Mlamli, a former King Sabata Dalindyebo mayor and now OR Tambo district councillor, of being “sell-outs”.
This evoked a rumble of disapproval from the mourners.
On behalf of the Madiba clan, Prince Sidima Mnqanqeni apologised to the mourners, saying the house of Joyi and Madiba clan in general condemned the display.
Family spokesman Bandile Gqwede expressed disappointment at the behaviour of the king and other family members.
“We are only thankful that it all eventually cooled down. People must understand that this has nothing to do with Chief Ngwenyathi,” said Gqwede.
Xasa hit back, saying he was disappointed with the king and that his efforts to fight the ANC would not succeed.
“Please, those who love the nation of AbaThembu must intervene.
“The king is the face of the nation and he must be advised appropriately.
“The world, when it looks to AbaThembu, looks to the nation of Madiba, a world icon. AbaThembu are supposed to be in mourning,” said Xasa.
After the chaos, the king left for Johannesburg to visit the Mandela family. –– lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Dalindyebo lets rip at Joyi funeral
They were furious with him for publicly insulting one of his wives. It was the funeral of Ngwenyathi Joyi in Bhaziya near Mthatha on Saturday.
“She is a self-created chief and is imposing herself as one of the chiefs.
“My wife, please leave, leave I say, leave,” shouted Dalindyebo in front of more than 1000 mourners, including his other wife, Queen Nokwanda Dalindyebo.
Noluntu is a member of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders.
An irate Thanduxolo Mtirara, chairman of the AbaThembu Royal Council which is lobbying for the removal of Dalindyebo, stood up and shouted at the king: “Where do you want her to go? Why are you insulting her at this funeral? You are an embarrassment! She is going nowhere. You have made it your habit to use funerals as a platform to insult others. Not in this one!”
Mourners for and against Dalindyebo shouted and shoved each other and tried to manhandle the king.
Daludumo Mtirara leapt from his seat and grabbed the microphone from the king, whose righthand man, Jonas JJ Ndzambule, tried to separate the king and Daludumo while they tussled over the microphone.
Earlier the king lambasted the ANC, calling it a “nonsense” party, and accused legislature speaker and ANC national executive member Fikile Xasa and Siyakholwa Mlamli, a former King Sabata Dalindyebo mayor and now OR Tambo district councillor, of being “sell-outs”.
This evoked a rumble of disapproval from the mourners.
On behalf of the Madiba clan, Prince Sidima Mnqanqeni apologised to the mourners, saying the house of Joyi and Madiba clan in general condemned the display.
Family spokesman Bandile Gqwede expressed disappointment at the behaviour of the king and other family members.
“We are only thankful that it all eventually cooled down. People must understand that this has nothing to do with Chief Ngwenyathi,” said Gqwede.
Xasa hit back, saying he was disappointed with the king and that his efforts to fight the ANC would not succeed.
“Please, those who love the nation of AbaThembu must intervene.
“The king is the face of the nation and he must be advised appropriately.
“The world, when it looks to AbaThembu, looks to the nation of Madiba, a world icon. AbaThembu are supposed to be in mourning,” said Xasa.
After the chaos, the king left for Johannesburg to visit the Mandela family. –– lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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