Singer Ringo comes out in support of jailed king
Legendary muso calls for release of Dalindyebo, asks Ramaphosa to act
Legendary afro pop singer Ringo Madlingozi has joined a chorus of voices calling for the release of jailed AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.
Madlingozi said jailing a sitting monarch would never be dared in Britain, any other country or even in KwaZuluNatal.
The singer recently mesmerised revellers during the second annual Xhosa carnival held at AmaXhosa King Mpendulo Sigcawu’s Nqadu Great Place.
The seasoned musician made the call for the king’s release in front of other singers like Ntando Bangani, royals including Western Mpondoland King Ndamase Ndamase, National House of Traditional Leaders chair Nkosi Sipho Mahlangu and his provincial counterpart Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana.
Madlingozi took the bull by the horns, urging co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, his senior officials and other government leaders to request that President Cyril Ramaphosa to do the honourable thing and release Dalindyebo. He called on the kings, queens and other royals in the country to make more noise in demanding the release of their own.
Dalindyebo has been serving a 12-year sentence at the East London Correction Centre since December 2015 for seven counts of kidnapping, three of assault, three of arson, and one of defeating the ends of justice.
“This is not an attack on the Thembu kingdom – it is an attack on African royalty, Africanism, African culture and the entire African customary law.
“It is a mischievous promotion of Roman Dutch law at the expense of our culture,” said Madlingozi.
The singer blamed disunity among Eastern Cape royals and other traditional leaders for the fact that Dalindyebo was languishing behind bars.
“They would not dare arrest a sitting Zulu king.
“They only found the Eastern Cape to be a soft target.
“If they dared try, there could be a helluva uproar nationwide.
“Nobody would dare arrest a British royal, Queen Elizabeth, but they found it easy with King Dalindyebo,” said Madlingozi.
The musician believes Dalindyebo’s case could have been better dealt with in accordance with African customary practices, saying the jailed monarch was a judicial officer who was exercising his duties after a case was brought to him.
“So what has the king done to be jailed?
“We call for the release of our king,” said Madlingozi.
There have been many campaigns for the king’s release led by his son, acting King Azenathi Dalindyebo, AbaThembu monarchs, Contralesa, youth movements and other stakeholders.
Xhosa King Sigcawu has been one of the most vocal, lambasting Dalindyebo’s incarceration and demanding his release.
In 2016, Eastern Cape traditional leaders and clergy marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria demanding the release of Dalindyebo.
Madlingozi said he would lobby for the king’s release whenever he was given a platform to do so and encouraged others to follow suit.
They would not dare arrest a sitting Zulu king. They only found the Eastern Cape to be a soft target