AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo was released on warning after being arrested at his home in Bumbane near Mthatha on Friday morning.
The spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in the Eastern Cape, Luxolo Tyali, said that the 55-year-old was charged with one count of assault.
He said the King was also ordered not to interfere with any witnesses in the matter.
King Dalinyebo was released on parole in December when he received a special remission of sentence after serving a third of his 12-year prison term for assault, kidnapping and arson among other charges.
While Eastern Cape police remain mum on the circumstances surrounding his arrest, family spokesperson, Chief Zwelenqaba Mgudlwa, told Algoa FM News that he had allegedly attacked his son, acting King Azenathi Dalinyebo, in the early hours of Friday morning.
Mgudlwa claims that Dalinyebo was armed with an axe and other dangerous weapons and demanded to be reinstated to his position as King.
He said the family now want his parole to be revoked.
"What kind of man attacks his own family? A man is supposed to protect his family," he said.
King Dalindyebo will be back in court again on 1 June.
