Daily Dispatch

I’m still an EFF man, declares King Dalindyebo

- LULAMILE FENI

Abathembu King Buyelekhay­a Dalindyebo has been campaignin­g hard for the EFF.

The king met EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu at his home in Nkululekwe­ni near Mthatha on Sunday before addressing students at King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College in Cicirha, where he called on them to vote EFF.

He also met the provincial leadership led by chair Zilindile Vena before he went to address students at the college in Kwadosi village in Mthatha.

The king, wearing EFF colours, called for the students not to vote for any other party than the EFF, saying earlier that he was at home at the party.

The king also assured Shivambu that it was misleading to claim that he had left the EFF.

“These guys are crazy. Desperatio­n I think is going to kill them. They are far too desperate.”

At the college, he told the students that EFF leader Julius Malema had been awarded the royal salutation, Ahh! Zanezulu!

“Malema has a mandate directly from heaven to lead this country,” Dalindyebo said.

“That is what his praise means. He was given the salutation from my royal home.

“If he was a royal, I could have given him a kingship ... This is your country, this is your time,” he said.

Dalindyebo said Malema was leading an organisati­on that had God’s blessing.

“This is time for the youth to lead and the grandfathe­rs and grandmas must come back home and babysit.”

He spoke strongly against corruption.

“We do not want corrupt people and oppressors,” he said.

Dalindyebo caused a stir on social media recently after he appeared next to ANC Eastern Cape chair Oscar Mabuyane wearing ANC colours in an event in the Chris Hani district where the party held its Mayihlome rally.

At the event, ANC leaders, led by Mabuyane, celebrated the king’s 59th birthday.

This prompted a number of people to conclude that Dalindyebo had dumped the EFF for the ANC.

The king issued a statement the following day saying he had not dumped the EFF.

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch on Saturday, Dalindyebo said wearing ANC colours was not confirming anything.

“I am still with the EFF. I am king, a father of all and tomorrow I can wear the colours of another political party, but such a party should not make a mistake to think I am their member.

“I am happy at the EFF and will continue to campaign for it,” he said.

 ?? Picture: LULAMILE FENI ?? GOING HARD: Abathembu King Buyelekhay­a Dalindyebo has been in full force campaignin­g for the EFF.
Picture: LULAMILE FENI GOING HARD: Abathembu King Buyelekhay­a Dalindyebo has been in full force campaignin­g for the EFF.

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