The abaThembu nation – a recent history

The abaThembu nation are part of the greater Bantu group of people who, over a period of 2 000 years, migrated from Central and West Africa eastwards toward the Great Lakes region around Kenya and further south along the west, central region and east coast all the way down to present-day South Africa.

This slow migration saw people settling in various parts of Southern Africa: Congo, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa.

The Bantu groups in all of subSaharan Africa are connected by language and culture.

The abaThembu nation has had a tumultuous decade with their king, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, convicted of criminal charges last year, prior to which he suffered political alienation after cozying up to the Democratic Alliance. His various public jibes directed at President Jacob Zuma, including referring to him as “a boy”, haven’t won the abaThembu any favours. Dalindyebo has held the position of king from 1989, when he returned from exile. The 52-yearold took over from his father, Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo, who died in exile in Zambia in 1986.

Sabata fled the then Transkei homeland after he was sentenced for “violating the dignity” of the Transkei state president, Kaiser Matanzima.

Matanzima was not averse to jailing protesters and banning opposition parties, including Sabata’s Democratic Progressive Party.

Since taking over from his father, Dalindyebo has married four wives, none of royal lineage.

He has six children and since his incarceration six months ago his eldest son, Prince Azenathi Zanelizwe Dalindyebo, has been touted as the next king — rumours Dalindyebo has sought to dispel.