‘Release Dalindyebo or we will not vote’
AbaThembu king’s incarceration could cost ANC votes
Three aggrieved Eastern Cape monarchs have given President Cyril Ramaphosa seven days to release the jailed AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo or kiss the votes of their subjects goodbye.
Monday is the deadline for Ramaphosa to release Dalindyebo. The kings all called for a presidential pardon, not parole.
Two media briefings – one apparently counteracting the other – were held in Mthatha by some of the Eastern Cape kings at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and another by Dalindyebo’s king’s council at Bumbane Great Place. Dalindyebo has been in prison since December 31 2015 and is in the fourth of his 12year sentence. The kings who met at WSU called for the presidential pardon. Mlamli Ndamase, convener of the the meeting, said: “President Ramaphosa has avoided meeting us on numerous occasions. He has been ducking and diving. He has avoided talking to us over the matter of Zwelibanzi. We have resolved today that we give president Ramaphosa seven days to release Zwelibanzi, or we will not vote for the ANC and will mobilise our people to vote for any political party, but not for the ANC.”
Among the kings who took the decision were AmaXhosa King Mpendulo Sigcawu, Western Thembuland King Siyambonga Matanzima and Nkosi Mzubanzi Jali who represented AmaRharhabe Queen-Regent Noloyiso Sandile.
Also attending the meeting was Dalindyebo’s spokesperson Prince Mthunzi Ngonyama, who said he was instructed by Dalindyebo himself to attend the gathering on his behalf and that Dalindyebo was in agreement with the resolution of the kings. Ndamase said the forum had even engaged with former president Jacob Zuma and the governing party’s top six but had had “no joy”.
“In 2015, we met with the ANC top six at Luthuli House over the issue of Zwelibanzi, and it was only Ramaphosa who was absent but apologised. But since then there has been no interaction,” said Ndamase.
Both Sigcawu and and Matanzima said the incarceration of the king has affected the entire monarchy in SA and on the continent.
Not attending the meeting were AmaMpondo King Zanozuko Sigcau and Western Mpondoland King Ndamase Ndamase.
Earlier in the morning in Bumbane, AbaThembu Royal council chairperson Nkosi Thandisizwe Mtirara, Nkosi Dumisani Mgudlwa and Dalindyebo’s brother Prince Siganeko Dalindyebo held their own media briefing over the king’s arrest.
“We have covered a great deal of ground and release of Zwelibanzi on a presidential pardon is at an advance stage. We can get a message at any stage, I can get a call at anytime that the king is released,” Mtirara said.
“But it all rests with the president and we have confidence in him. While we appreciate efforts by other sectors we urge them not to spoil the process.”
They said they have been in touch with Ramaphosa and justice and correctional services minister Michael Masuta over the matter. “We have even met with the victims and everybody affected. We are at an advance stage.”
The AbaThembu royal council called for a coordinated move on the matter and urged the public and other sectors not to bypass the Dalindyebo family.
“It pains that people deliberately bypass us and not consult with us on activities. AbaThembu acting King Zanelizwe should be the one leading the process and such should coordinate in Bumbane as the centre [of] power.”
The AbaThembu royal family said that they were not part of the resolution taken by the king on Monday.
We’ll vote for other parties, not the ANC