Supporters of AbaThembu king Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo claim he would not be in jail today had he received counselling when he returned from exile.A group of church leaders, traditional leaders and AbaThembu were transported to the Union Buildings in Pretoria yesterday where they demanded the king’s release.
They held a march and handed over a petition to the presidency.
Dalindyebo is serving a 12-year sentence for charges including culpable homicide, kidnapping, assault and defeating the ends of justice.
Protest organiser Chief Dalubuhle Plaatjie said: “The king was three years old when he went into exile and 29 years old when he came back. He never received any counselling and was never introduced to normal life or empowered for the throne.”
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe responded that the king had returned from exile with many other comrades, none of whom had received counselling.
Provincial correctional services spokesman Zama Feni yesterday said Dalindyebo was still in hospital, after being admitted on January 17.
Accepting the petition yesterday was the presidency’s deputy director Melisizwe Bleki, who said Zuma and deputy president Cyril Ramaposa were in Cape Town.
He said the application by Contralesa was still being attended to by the Justice Department. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
King not to blame, Thembus tell ANC
A group of church leaders, traditional leaders and AbaThembu were transported to the Union Buildings in Pretoria yesterday where they demanded the king’s release.
They held a march and handed over a petition to the presidency.
Dalindyebo is serving a 12-year sentence for charges including culpable homicide, kidnapping, assault and defeating the ends of justice.
Protest organiser Chief Dalubuhle Plaatjie said: “The king was three years old when he went into exile and 29 years old when he came back. He never received any counselling and was never introduced to normal life or empowered for the throne.”
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe responded that the king had returned from exile with many other comrades, none of whom had received counselling.
Provincial correctional services spokesman Zama Feni yesterday said Dalindyebo was still in hospital, after being admitted on January 17.
Accepting the petition yesterday was the presidency’s deputy director Melisizwe Bleki, who said Zuma and deputy president Cyril Ramaposa were in Cape Town.
He said the application by Contralesa was still being attended to by the Justice Department. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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