2010/01/08
KING Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s lawyer has officially notified President Jacob Zuma that the AbaThembu nation intend to withdraw from South Africa early next year.
And the King is claiming much of South Africa for his new State – all of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Northern Cape and parts of the Free State and Gauteng.
Lawyer Votani Majola, who heads the King Dalindyebo Justice Task Team (KDJTT), submitted the notice to the Office of the Presidency yesterday.
The notice, of which Daily Dispatch has a copy, states that an official “withdrawal notice” with more details would be served on Parliament in Cape Town at noon on January 6.
“Our clients request His Excellency the Honourable State President to officially accept the Withdrawal Notice aforesaid on behalf of the South African Government so as to afford AbaThembu a dignified exit from his government,” the notice read.
Majola said should no one be available to accept it, it would be hung on the main entrance to Parliament “in the manner the Sheriff normally serves papers”.
“With effect from 6 January 2010, technically the South African government will not have jurisdiction over the land that belongs to AbaThembu Tribe.”
Majola also said it was “anticipated” that government would finance the transition.
A notice was also served on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) demanding that all charges against the convicted king be withdrawn.
This follows Mthatha High Court sentencing Dalindyebo to 15 years’ imprisonment on a number of charges, including assault and culpable homicide.
“I first served the papers to the Office of the President at 11am before I proceeded to the NPA. At the Office of the President the papers were accepted by a certain Constance Manamela who promised to forward them to Zuma,” said Majola.
The NPA has been given five days to respond.
Majola said if there was no response, the KDJTT would meet to discuss a way forward.
Part of the 14-page submission to the NPA also stated that, once the AbaThembu nation had seceded from South Africa, it would hold a National Day of Siege during which the South African national flag and membership cards of the ANC would be burnt.
Dalindyebo’s spokesperson Nkosi Zilimbola Mpahlana yesterday declined to comment, saying Majola was acting on instructions from the king and that he was not always briefed on their plans of action.
Another royal spokesperson, Phumla Matshaya, flared: “I don’t want to see you Dispatch people or talk to you. You are sellouts. How can you ridicule a person (Dalindyebo) like this?
“Please leave the king alone. The media has humiliated the king enough.”
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya dismissed the notice as “a joke”. “I’m not going to comment on this because it does not make sense. These guys are not serious. I will only be able to respond once the President has officially seen the papers.” Asked if any charges could be laid against Majola and Dalindyebo for inciting members of the AbaThembu to defy the government, Magwenya said he was going to consult the President’s legal team.
NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhanga said the demand by Majola and Dalindyebo to withdraw the charges was “unusual and unprecedented”. “Charges can never be withdrawn when an accused has been convicted and sentenced ... according to Criminal Procedure Act.” - By BONGANI HANS, Mthatha Bureau, bonganih@dispatch.co.za
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