President Jacob Zuma will be asked to strip jailed AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo of the certificate that recognises him as king under South African law.
At a meeting on Monday, the royal house moved swiftly to do damage control after years of controversy surrounding the king culminated in him being jailed last week. He is serving 12 years for assault and kidnapping.
Spokesperson Daludumo Mtirara rolled off a list of resolutions taken at the meeting prompted by Dalindyebo's incarceration, starting with the decision to ask Zuma for an "administrative dethroning".
His spear has already been taken away, dethroning him customarily.
Zuma had been asked previously to withdraw the certificate, but the king had challenged it in court.
At that application, late minister in the presidency Collins Chabane had indicated that Zuma had decided to only consider a request to withdraw recognition once the entire issue had been concluded.
Mtirara said they also resolved to appoint an acting king and specifically wanted Department of Co-Operative Governance and Tradtiional Affairs official, Charles Nwaila, to facilitate this process because he knew the background.
Other measures included taking an inventory of palace assets, a request to government for 24/7 security to protect palace assets and an approach to the family of late president Nelson Mandela to restore relations after the king said things to offend him, said Mtirara. The king was Mandela's nephew.
A delegation would also be sent to the families of the victims related to the kidnapping and assault convictions to mend bridges.
He said the meeting was very successful and had reunited families that had not spoken for many years because of differences over the king.
"It was good to see people who had not been there for 20 years because they felt uncomfortable," he said. "We want peace and stability."
Comment from Zuma's office on the certificate was not immediately available.
News24
Zuma must dethrone Dalindyebo - AbaThembu royal house
President Jacob Zuma will be asked to strip jailed AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo of the certificate that recognises him as king under South African law.
At a meeting on Monday, the royal house moved swiftly to do damage control after years of controversy surrounding the king culminated in him being jailed last week. He is serving 12 years for assault and kidnapping.
Spokesperson Daludumo Mtirara rolled off a list of resolutions taken at the meeting prompted by Dalindyebo's incarceration, starting with the decision to ask Zuma for an "administrative dethroning".
His spear has already been taken away, dethroning him customarily.
Zuma had been asked previously to withdraw the certificate, but the king had challenged it in court.
At that application, late minister in the presidency Collins Chabane had indicated that Zuma had decided to only consider a request to withdraw recognition once the entire issue had been concluded.
Mtirara said they also resolved to appoint an acting king and specifically wanted Department of Co-Operative Governance and Tradtiional Affairs official, Charles Nwaila, to facilitate this process because he knew the background.
Other measures included taking an inventory of palace assets, a request to government for 24/7 security to protect palace assets and an approach to the family of late president Nelson Mandela to restore relations after the king said things to offend him, said Mtirara. The king was Mandela's nephew.
A delegation would also be sent to the families of the victims related to the kidnapping and assault convictions to mend bridges.
He said the meeting was very successful and had reunited families that had not spoken for many years because of differences over the king.
"It was good to see people who had not been there for 20 years because they felt uncomfortable," he said. "We want peace and stability."
Comment from Zuma's office on the certificate was not immediately available.
News24
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos