Faction opposes Prince Azenathi as acting king

OUTCRY: Supporters of jailed King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo hold posters after the abaThembu meeting at which it was resolved to appoint his son, Prince Azenathi Zanelizwe Dalindyebo, as acting king Picture:LULAMILE FENI
OUTCRY: Supporters of jailed King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo hold posters after the abaThembu meeting at which it was resolved to appoint his son, Prince Azenathi Zanelizwe Dalindyebo, as acting king Picture:LULAMILE FENI
A faction of the royal family has rejected the appointment of Prince Azenathi Zanelizwe Dalindyebo as acting king of the abaThembu while his father, King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, is in prison.

Daludumo Mtirara, spokesman of the royal family of the Kingdom of abaThembu, said his group “dismisses the announcement of Azenathi Dalindyebo as the acting king of abaThembu nation by the same group that misled his father, Zwelibanzi Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, and kept quiet when his father was incarcerated”.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the mischievous actions, which are in contravention of our matured custom,” Mtirara said.

“We advise Azenathi Dalindyebo to concentrate on his studies, and not allow members who want to advance their interests by using his name .”

The king’s wife, Queen Nokwanda Dalindyebo, has received backing to become the new ruler.

However, Azenathi’s appointment received support from the national executive committee of abaThembu yesterday morning.

The committee is not a customary structure, but seeks to unite all abaThembu in southern Africa and has been in existence since 2009.

It was formed by King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.

The chairman of the committee, Vusi Mvelase, said: “We are happy and support the action to appoint Prince Azenathi.

“We support Azenathi strongly because his appointment was first pronounced by the king himself at a mass meeting of abaThembu way back in October.”

Mvelase is one of the abaThembu leaders based in KwaZulu-Natal.

Meanwhile, a “free the king” campaign, led by Phumla Matshaya, once the king’s spokeswoman, is gaining momentum.

Mvelase said the national executive committee would hold a mass meeting at a Durban stadium. They hoped to attract 15000 abaThembu.

“This has come up after the outcry at the incarceration of our king. This makes us all sad and furious. We will all be jubilant if the king is freed. We are looking at negotiating with authorities to see the way forward.

Mvelase added: “We should guard against it being abused as a launch pad to political scores.

“I am not saying who has done what, but this is too delicate and could be easily abused for political gains. The issue at hand is to have the king freed.”

Three traditional leaders – Chief Mfundo Mtirara, Chief Phathekile Holomisa and Chief Zanengqele Dalasile – have been elected as spokesmen for the abaThembu.

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