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NO AMOUNT of begging or pleading by senior government officials, traditional leaders or politicians could convince AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo to attend a Bumbane Great Place ceremony to honour his late father this week.

Sources say Buyelekhaya’s snub was an attempt to get in writing the declaration that he is, in fact, king of all the AbaThembu.

The Ubuntu Awards were organised by the National Heritage Council (NHC) to honour Buyelekhaya’s late father, King Sabata Dalindyebo, on Thursday.

Buyelekhaya is former President Nelson Mandela’s clan nephew. Madiba was the first recipient of the Ubuntu Award in 2006.

Besides Sabata, who died in exile in 1986, a second award recipient was former United Nations secretary- general Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt, who was represented by his nephew Fakhry Abdelnoir and the Egyptian ambassador to South Africa, Dr Mohamed Zayed.

The event was also meant to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Sabata’s reburial. But because Buyelekhaya did not attend, Sabata was not honoured with the award. Boutros-Ghali was the only recipient on the day.

At Bumbane on Thursday, the king – who usually meets his visitors in his living-room – reportedly did not even leave his bedroom, while guests took turns to plead with him inside his bedroom.

Advocate Sonwabile Mangcotywa, chief executive officer of NHC, visited the king on Wednesday night, to plead with him.

AmaRharhabe King Mpendulo Sigcawu also pleaded with Buyelekhaya.

MEC for Public Works Pemmy Majodina told the more than 5000 people at the event that the king was unhappy. “We have pleaded with the king since morning; we are still apologising even now to the king and all the AbaThembu people; we will come back and make things right. On behalf of the ANC government we are sorry,” Majodina said.

MEC for Sport, Recreation Arts and Culture Xoliswa Tom said: “Because of circumstances beyond our control the king could not come today to receive the award on behalf of his late father.”

A visibly frustrated ANC provincial chairperson, Health MEC Phumulo Masualle, was heard talking to the president of Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa), Nkosi Patekile Holomisa after they had spoken to the king. He asked him: “What are we going to tell all these people who have come here? What about everything that has been done to organise this event?”

In the end, Masualle did not attend the event – held a short distance from the palace – despite being scheduled as the keynote speaker. He remained at the palace while other government leaders made their way to the venue.

Not only did Buyelekhaya snub the event, all his AbaThembu chiefs stayed clear of the ceremonies, including Nelson Mandela’s grandson Nkosi Mandla Mandela.

Patekile Holomisa also left Bumbane after it became clear that the AbaThembu king would not change his mind.

Buyelekhaya, according to highly placed sources in the Great Place, boycotted the event due to unresolved issues with government over a decision of the Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims Commission – otherwise known as the Ntlapo Commission – which looked into the legitimacy of his kingship. It ruled in his favour but resolved that the status quo would remain until the matter was finalised. When the event was finished, more than 20 cars were unable to leave as they were stuck in the mud near the venue. It took breakdown services until 9pm to pull all the cars out of the mud. - By LUBABALO NGCUKANA, Mthatha Bureau