AbaThembu King bans ANC from his land again in his newest flip-flop

By Celani Sikhakhane

• King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo told a Mthatha gala dinner he no longer wants anything to do with the ANC, “not in my house, not in my land, not in my fence.”

• ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula declined to respond directly, referring questions to the party’s Eastern Cape leadership.

AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has banned the ANC from his land, the latest outburst in a long and volatile relationship with the party.

His Majesty made the remarks at the Tailor Made Insurance & Skills Development Gala Dinner Launch, organised by the AbaThembu royal kingdom in partnership with Nazerene, at the Mayfair Hotel in Mthatha on Thursday afternoon.

“I am expressing deep anger that no ANC should continue ruling, deep anger. I no longer want anything associated with the ANC. Not in my house, not in my land, not in my fence,” he said.

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula appeared unshaken. Speaking to Scrolla.Africa on Friday, and laughing as he did, Mbalula said he did not want to respond to the King directly, and asked that Scrolla.Africa instead approach the party’s Eastern Cape leadership.

“I won’t respond to what His Majesty has said, and I am not willing to engage the King on this matter. Just speak to our leadership in the Eastern Cape,” Mbalula said.

The Eastern Cape leadership, including the OR Tambo Region in Mthatha, could not be reached for comment.

This is far from the King’s first break with the ANC, and it’s unlikely to be his last. He defected from the ANC to the DA in 2013, rejoined the ANC in December 2023, then endorsed the EFF by April 2024, before turning on EFF leader Julius Malema and endorsing the African Transformation Movement by February 2026.

His outbursts against the ANC date back to 2009, when he was convicted of arson, kidnapping, culpable homicide, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and defeating the ends of justice, after accusations that he kidnapped a woman and her six children, set their home alight, and assaulted four young men, one of whom died, after a relative of theirs failed to appear before his traditional court. He was sentenced to 15 years, and spent over five years appealing the conviction.

The King has never denied the underlying conduct, maintaining that his actions were a legitimate exercise of his authority to discipline his subjects. He has previously accused former President Jacob Zuma of using people and discarding them “like condoms.”

More recently, the King clashed with the ANC again after visiting Israel and hosting its ambassador to South Africa in Mthatha, accusing the party of imposing its position on Israel on the country because of former minister Dr Naledi Pandor’s religious beliefs.

That visit had real consequences: earlier this year, the King removed Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, as Inkosi of the Mvezo Traditional Authority, after Mandela and other leaders advised him against hosting the Israeli delegation.

King Buyelekhaya grew up around the ANC; his father, King Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo, fought for the country’s freedom within the ANC while in exile.

Pictured above: AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, who told a gala dinner audience he no longer wants the ANC in his land.

Image source: File