Joker in SA’S pack of kings
In Dalindyebo’s case, ‘royal highness’ could refer to what he smokes, writes Sam Mkokeli
IN an interview a decade ago, Thembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo used census statistics to justify his polygamous ways. At 52%, he argued, women outnumbered men and as a result were often single. Because single women were potentially a source of social instability, it was his duty to play his part in stabilising them.
The king has a free tongue, backed by an extensive bouquet of awkward, if not downright rude, words.
His sights, of late, have been trained on President Jacob Zuma, to whom he refers in unpleasant terms. He has called him “ingada” — Xhosa for feral cat. When he feels like it, he calls him “iqaqa” — meaning skunk.
The king has taken over where youth leader Julius Malema left off. His spirited run of outbursts has come in handy as journalists battle to get fresh angles on a far bigger story: that of former president Nelson Mandela’s family. Dalindyebo has become a blessing to journalists based in Qunu or outside the Pretoria hospital where Mandela is being treated.
He has threatened to join the Democratic Alliance. His intentions are merely a threat at this stage, because he has not taken any action to associate himself with the DA other than telling his followers — in the presence of journalists — and inviting DA leaders to visit the Thembu Great Place.
Joining political parties is not difficult. The DA has a branch in Mthatha, which is a hop, skip and jump away from him. But the king seems to prefer the long route of talking about his impending political move instead of just getting on with it. There is a reason for this — talking about it maximises publicity.
But why the DA, instead of the United Democratic Movement, the second-biggest party in the Transkei region? It is obvious. Joining the UDM will not be as big an event as joining the DA. It seems the grand promise to join the latter is about making the ANC jealous — and yanking Zuma’s chain.
Dalindyebo hopes that the national profile he is rapidly creating will make him appear untouchable and force the ANC and the government to kowtow to him.
So far it seems not to be working. ANC leaders are not losing sleep over the rebel king and his political plans.
There could be another factor behind what some describe
We won’t just shake hands and give him a membership form
as “madness” on the king’s part. He was found guilty by the High Court in Mthatha on charges of culpable homicide, arson, assault and kidnapping arising from incidents in 1995 and 1996. The king is out on bail, pending the outcome of his appeal.
He has tried unsuccessfully to secede as a way of putting himself beyond the reach of South Africa’s justice system — and its jails.
More recently he had another brain wave, telling the Sunday Times two weeks ago: “I will be serving divorce papers on this government.”
He said he no longer wanted the Thembu Royal House to fall under the Eastern Cape government.
Despite his negative attributes, the DA is keen to sign up the king, believing it will give the party a greater foothold in the Transkei.
Provincial leader Athol Trollip will travel to the Bumbane Great Place, outside Mthatha, to meet the king tomorrow.
Trollip said Dalindyebo’s break with the ANC symbolised an important step.
“The king is breaking tradition by saying ‘we as traditional leaders are not tied to the government’.
“We live in a constitutional democracy . . . and he is telling his people you can choose, you are free and allowed to choose any party.”
Trollip said the DA would welcome Dalindyebo “as controversial as he is”.
“The king has taken a conscious decision to say he is sick and tired of the corruption that is so prevalent in Zuma’s government. We share those sentiments.”
But Trollip is prepared to have a tough conversation with Dalindyebo, taking him to task about some of his controversial statements that fly in the face of the constitutionalism preached by the DA.
“It’s not going to be easy. We won’t just shake hands and give him a membership form,” Trollip said.
As the DA gets excited about the man, it ignores the possibility that Dalindyebo might have no following other than the sycophants who roll his dagga zol. Traditional structures require obedient subjects who respect the positions that people occupy, not necessarily the incumbent.
Party politics are as entrenched in Thembuland as traditional leadership and voters may not ditch the ANC just because an erratic king tells them to do so.
See Q&A, Page 23