With a quarter of his 12-year prison sentence to be completed next month, calls to release jailed AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo are gaining a momentum.
Traditional and church leaders, youth formations and political parties will on Saturday march to the West Bank prison in East London to demand that President Cyril Ramaphosa pardon Dalindyebo.
One of the organisers, Prince Sizwe Mabandla of AmaBhele kaMabandla Youth Movement lobby group, said the march would bring everybody together for the sake of Dalindyebo.
He said there would also be similar marches to the Union Buildings and parliament. Acting AbaThembu King Azenathi, other kings and traditional leaders have met with Ramaphosa, justice and correctional services minister Michael Masutha and traditional affairs minister Zweli Mkhize about releasing the jailed monarch.
Mabandla said they will meet in front of the East London City Hall in Oxford Street at 9.30am and march to the prison.
Among those expected at the march are National Heritage Council CEO Sonwabile Mancotywa, labour deputy minister Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa, leaders of Contralesa, SA Council of Churches, Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders, political parties including Azapo, EFF, ANC and PAC.
“We are happy that there are many activists and lobby groups and societal groups that are involved in the campaign calling for the release of the king,” said Mabandla.
Those who have been campaigning for Dalindyebo’s release are hopeful Ramaphosa will grant the king a presidential pardon before next year’s general and provincial elections.
Dalindyebo is serving 12 years for arson, culpable homicide, kidnapping, defeating the course of justice and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm...