King guilty on violence charges
For those of you who would like to post some comments on our front page story on Thursday morning, here it is again: Abathembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s reign of fear and violence caught up with him on Wednesday when he was found guilty in the Mthatha High Court on charges ranging from kidnapping and assault to arson, writes Lubabalo Ngcukana.
Dalindyebo escaped being convicted of murder, but was found guilty of culpable homicide.
The charges date back to 1995 and 1996 and relate to incidents in Tyalarha where the king has a farm and where his Bumbane Great Place is situated.
Judge Sytze Alkema found that Dalindyebo was guilty of kidnapping a mother and her six children after he had personally set alight their home.
The judge said all seven kidnapping counts would be treated as one count.
He was found guilty of culpable homicide, instead of murder, for the death of Saziso Wofa, who was assaulted severely and died as a result.
Dalindyebo had instructed the assaults on Wofa the court found on Wednesday.
Dalindyebo was further found guilty of assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm after he assaulted Wofa’s associates Malandela Sontanase, Lunga Pama and Welile Dumo.
The four were suspected of committing the crimes of rape, housebreaking and theft, and the king had ordered they be apprehended and beaten by members of the community.
Dalindyebo, former President Nelson Mandela’s clan nephew, was also found guilty on charges of arson for burning down the homes of Wayiya Sonteya, Stokwana Sonteya and Mbuzeni Mkhwenkwana.
Justice Alkema described Dalindyebo as having been a poor witness and dismissed most of his evidence and versions during the trial as false and as attempts to hide his criminal liability.
“Most of the evidence of the accused was not totally convincing; he was self-righteous and contemptuous of the court,” Alkema said.
See the front page of Thursday’s print or online edition of the Daily Dispatch.
11 Comments Already, Leave Yours Too
Why did he not order the judge to recuse himself? Seems to be the order of the day!!
King? What King? Is this Idi Amin?
Does he think he is royalty that he can do things like this?
I think if one were to investigate a bit more you would find that this is the tip of the iceberg. Maybe not murder but certainly abuse.
I am disappointed in the King’s alleged actions. I am also disappointed in the men that continue to rape and murder people in the villages. Just from the utterance reported on the article, I find it diffocult to see how the King would get a fair hearing from this judge.
VT-J what do you mean alleged????
He was found guilty in a court of law – no longer an allegation but proved.
What alleged comments by the judge lead you to say he would not get a fair trial? Is this what you read or heard first hand? Reporters are notorious for selective reporting to sensationalise court cases so if you are relying on what you read, then you are wrong!
VJ-Joe my fellow countryman, respecting the courts and their judgments shows respect for law and order. It is disheartening for you to show compassion for the victim and in the same breath question a judgment which you support merely because it makes reference to the Kings attitude. Justice was served, if the King has any quelms he can appeal the decision.
King or no king, no one has the right to ‘rule’ by inflicting fear or doing things this so called King did. Just because you have some fancy title does not give you the right to do things like this. I think it is completely disgusting. I am so glad that he has been found guilty. Now… for the sentence. Most likely will be a slap on the royal hand or something.
Surely this has been the Tribal way since time immemorial,eg. shaka zulu etc
King or no king his actions are deplorable to say the least.
Please respect your King ukuze naye azive ekhuselekile,exabisekile.Transformation in Courts is essential.In the olden days there was no rape or housebreaking.Icases ezifana nezi azifanelanga ukuchotshelwa ngabelungu.Abazazi idynamics zentlalo yakwaNtu.Ezabo ingxaki zithwa handle ngempucuko.Ze ezethu zithwe PA HA estratweni behlekisa bephunga ngathi.Vukani ningalahlekiswa kukuba nicinga ngempucuko.We must preserve izithethe namasiko,ingathi sinomgeni ngoku.Ezakomkhulu maziye kwiHouse of Traditional Leaders,zithethwe ngesidima.Inkosi zibonisane ngengxaki,ngoba omhlophe aka ngeni ndawo,futhi soze aziqonde izigwegwe namakhwiniba asekuhlaleni kwethu singabantu.They have their own lifestyles,ngoko ke ne mind set ayisoze ifane,Bahloniphile eMgungundlovu isiko lokweshwama.Mhlawumbi uzakuthi azifani ewe azifani.Kodwa mabahlonitshwe oKumkani neNkosi ukuze nabo bazihloniphe.
[...] Dalindyebo was sentenced in October last year to 15 years for his crimes. They included ordering in 1995 that one of his subjects be beaten up as well as ordering the kidnapping of a mother and her children after the woman’s husband failed to pay a fine Dalindyebo had given him. Then in December Votani Majola, Dalindyebo’s lawyer and head of The King Dalindyebo Justice Task Team, demanded that the state compensate the AbaThembu nation R80-billion and the royal family R900-million for the humiliation suffered as a result of Dalindyebo’s criminal conviction. Failure to do so would result in the nation seceding, charged Majola. [...]
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