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The Abathembu Royal House says efforts to unseat King Buyelekaya Dalinyebo is not a political issue, but one based on long-standing concerns about his conduct.
The court has courted controversy by strongly criticising President Jacob Zuma and his ANC-led government, openly smoking dagga and then also becoming a full-fledged card carrying member of the Democratic Alliance.
He has also been convicted and sentenced for serious crimes that include murder and kidnapping and also threatened to secede from South Africa.
The Abathembu Royal House convened a media briefing on Thursday where it outlined all the steps that had been taken since 2003 when a comprehensive internal process was undertaken to address the issues facing the kingdom under the leadership of King Daliynebo.
Nkosi Daludumo Mtirara says despite repeated attempts to address these issues and get the King to change his behaviour, these all had failed.
He said in 2012 when all internal effort were exhausted, the Royal family took the painful decision to initiate the process of removing the spear from King Dalinyebo.
Mtirara said the Royal house is also aware of a letter written to him by president Jacob Zuma giving King Dalinyebo 30 days to respond and say why he should not be removed.
"As a member of the Royal family we are ready to rebuild the credibility of our monarch, which has suffered so much under our incumbent king. The family will consult with all the houses in this matter so the way forward can be crafted"
He says this is not a political issue.
"This has nothing to do with our president. This goes as far back as 2003. This started internally when Mbeki was still president" he added
