PORT ELIZABETH, March 31 (ANA) – The Council of Churches South Africa International is expected to hand over a petition outside Parliament on Friday calling for the release of jailed Abathembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.
Dalindyebo is serving a 12-year sentence at the East London Maximum Correctional Centre after being found guilty of kidnapping, assault arson and defeating ends of justice.
The leader of the Council, Mbulelo Mvubu, who is also a convener of the “Release King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo campaign”, said Dalindyebo should not have been jailed as the law related to the crimes he committed was only promulgated in 2005 while the alleged crimes were committed in 1995.
“The crimes he allegedly committed were in 1995, the law he was convicted on was only promulgated in 2005. There were no eye witnesses, the people who actually committed the crimes were inciting him. We have never heard of a kinf being dethroned. Customary law allows for a king to be handed over to his nation if something is done incorrectly,” said Mvubu.
“Roman Dutch Law allows for a king to be protected like all other presiding officers, if he made an error he should be warned, as a first offender he should never be sent to jail.”
Mvubu said the council was calling for Dalindyebo’s release with immediate effect and as a “matter of urgency”. He said the petition was directed to National Speaker Baleka Mbete.
Meanwhile, Abathembu Royal family spokesperson Nkosi Daludumo Mtirara, condemned “certain groups” whom he did not name for approaching government.
“Government did not send him to jail, it’s the victims whose cases were resuscitated. Anyone who wants to speak, must speak about the victims and how they can reconcile with our member who is in jail. How best our family and community can be rejoined, because the victims are within our community and they are also relatives,” said Mtirara.
He added that the royal family distanced itself from the picket and further raised concerns if the march was being held under a banner name of the Kingdom of AbaThembu.
“We are concerned with certain groups causing instability within the AbaThembu nation. The royal family is united and we are trying to create a way to connect with the victims,” Mtirara said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
