AmaXhosa King Mpendulo Zwelonke Sigcawu has called upon all royals in South Africa to unite and speak with one voice against the jailing of abaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.
He said the royals should persuade the government of President Jacob Zuma – which he likened to the former apartheid government in its attitude towards traditional leaders – to pardon Dalindyebo.
“We cannot as kings, queens, princesses, princes and other royals sit back while traditional leadership is under attack. Today it could be King Dalindyebo who is languishing in jail, tomorrow it could be me or another king.
“Should we wait for all to be jailed and dethroned before we realise that we must stand up and fight against this? That might be too late,” said Sigcawu.
There has been concern within traditional leadership circles over the jailing of Dalindyebo following his conviction for culpable homicide and related crimes, with calls for President Zuma to pardon the king.
Dalindyebo has refused to wear the orange prison uniform, resulting in him being left naked in his cell for at least an hour, as confirmed by prison authorities, although sources told the Dispatch he had been left without clothes for up to three days.
The king was addressing about 1000 people including cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa at Ngxakaxha Great Place near Dutywa on Friday during the royal enrobing of one of his uncles, Chief Mthetho Ngubeziswe Sigcawu. Mthetho is the senior traditional leader of amaGcaleka aseGwadana traditional council, overseeing five administrative areas for the past 25 years.
“Traditional leadership is not even liked by this democratic government. It is their wish that the institution of traditional leadership could have been abolished long ago.
“But since people still have confidence in traditional leadership, the government is pretending that it loves us, while on the other hand it is passing laws that are taking away our authority and undermining our structures, our way of living, our customs and jailing us for exercising our customary duties as heads of our communities.
“Like the apartheid government, this government is slowly taking away our identity,” said Sigcawu.
The king draped his uncle in a royal cloak of leopard skin and gave him a ruling stick while Xasa handed over a certificate of recognition to Chief Sigcawu.
The king said that each time he met Zuma, he raised his concern about the incarceration of Dalindyebo.
“We all need to be united as royals and engage the president to pardon King Dalindyebo. We will not rest until the president frees the king,” said Sigcawu.
Xasa said the government had done good work to restore traditional leaders’ dignity. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Royals under attack, storms Xhosa king
He said the royals should persuade the government of President Jacob Zuma – which he likened to the former apartheid government in its attitude towards traditional leaders – to pardon Dalindyebo.
“We cannot as kings, queens, princesses, princes and other royals sit back while traditional leadership is under attack. Today it could be King Dalindyebo who is languishing in jail, tomorrow it could be me or another king.
“Should we wait for all to be jailed and dethroned before we realise that we must stand up and fight against this? That might be too late,” said Sigcawu.
There has been concern within traditional leadership circles over the jailing of Dalindyebo following his conviction for culpable homicide and related crimes, with calls for President Zuma to pardon the king.
Dalindyebo has refused to wear the orange prison uniform, resulting in him being left naked in his cell for at least an hour, as confirmed by prison authorities, although sources told the Dispatch he had been left without clothes for up to three days.
The king was addressing about 1000 people including cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa at Ngxakaxha Great Place near Dutywa on Friday during the royal enrobing of one of his uncles, Chief Mthetho Ngubeziswe Sigcawu. Mthetho is the senior traditional leader of amaGcaleka aseGwadana traditional council, overseeing five administrative areas for the past 25 years.
“Traditional leadership is not even liked by this democratic government. It is their wish that the institution of traditional leadership could have been abolished long ago.
“But since people still have confidence in traditional leadership, the government is pretending that it loves us, while on the other hand it is passing laws that are taking away our authority and undermining our structures, our way of living, our customs and jailing us for exercising our customary duties as heads of our communities.
“Like the apartheid government, this government is slowly taking away our identity,” said Sigcawu.
The king draped his uncle in a royal cloak of leopard skin and gave him a ruling stick while Xasa handed over a certificate of recognition to Chief Sigcawu.
The king said that each time he met Zuma, he raised his concern about the incarceration of Dalindyebo.
“We all need to be united as royals and engage the president to pardon King Dalindyebo. We will not rest until the president frees the king,” said Sigcawu.
Xasa said the government had done good work to restore traditional leaders’ dignity. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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