AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo must hand himself over to prison authorities to start a 12-year prison sentence in about five days’ time.
Members of the royal family appear to have run out of options to save the controversial king from going to jail.
Dalindyebo recently applied to the Constitutional Court to set aside his conviction and sentence for kidnapping, arson and assault – without success.
Should Dalindyebo submit to prison, as he is expected to do, he will be unfit to act as king and his certificate of recognition will be withdrawn.
Dalindyebo claimed political conspiracy in his bid to thwart the charges, alleging the late Nelson Mandela and the ANC had engineered a plot to get rid of him.
He also alleged Mandela exceeded the boundaries of his authority as the chief of the Madiba clan.
He claimed the ANC wanted to appoint a “new ANC king” to ensure opposition political parties “do not play any meaningful role in politics in my jurisdiction”. He later joined the DA.
Chief Mandla Mandela had previously advised Dalindyebo to refrain from accusing Mandela. He was out of the country and could not be reached for comment.
Dalindyebo is reported to have applied for a presidential pardon.
After his failed appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal earlier this year, Dalindyebo realised he stood a good chance of landing in jail.
As a result, he decided to anoint his unpopular son, Azenathi Dalindyebo, as crown prince.
The move to anoint Azenathi did not go unopposed by close family.
Earlier this week, the family spokesman, Chief Daludumo Mtirara, said the family would meet to “deliberate issues”.
Independent Media
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