Jail-bound Thembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has warned his chosen successor son to stay away from booze and the plant that gained him much notoriety - dagga.

"Do not smoke dagga, don't abuse alcohol and politics are not for royals," the king said to his 23-year-old son and successor Azenathi Zanelizwe Dalindyebo.

Speaking to Sowetan's sister paper the Daily Dispatch during a two-hour interview on Sunday night at Bumbane Great Place near Mthatha, Dalindyebo urged his son to rather associate himself with the church and focus his energies on empowering himself through education "so as to develop our nation".

The controversial 50-year-old king's prospects of remaining a free man hang by a thread after he was sentenced to 12 years in prison by the Supreme Court of Appeal last week. Dalindyebo, who has ruled since 1992, has agreed to step down and allow his son to ascend the throne, although he has confirmed he will appeal to the Constitutional Court.

On Sunday, Dlomo royal clan members met and resolved to nominate Azenathi, a third-year University of Free State student, as his successor. Thembu traditional leaders will be informed of the resolution tomorrow, and on Sunday a mass meeting will be held.

After this , the royal family will write to President Jacob Zuma to recognise Azenathi and issue a certificate of recognition if satisfied that all due processes were followed. Dalindyebo has on many occasions admitted publicly to smoking dagga, saying he was a Rastafarian.

He has also previously described himself as a casual drinker. But he is also on record cautioning his subjects against smoking dagga, saying "you must leave that to Zwelibanzi". Zwelibanzi is his praise name.

At the weekend, he told Azenathi, who was seated next to him, that leading the nation was no child's play. "My son, this is a huge responsibility to lead such a big nation. You will need the wisdom of Solomon and the love of Jesus. Please, do not smoke dagga, don't abuse alcohol and politics are not for royals.

"Stay away from politics completely. Alcohol is a destroyer. It destroys families, is the most contributor of crime and moral degeneration. Smoking dagga is absolutely not right. I don't want any of my children to either drink alcohol or smoke dagga."

With four wives and 10 children, Dalindyebo urged his children to focus on education. His fifth wife died in 2012. Azenathi is his eldest son and born from his first wife Buyiswa Majiki, a high court judge, who is known among the Dalindyebos as Queen Nocollege Dalindyebo.

Dalindyebo was 27 years old when he ascended the throne after the death of his father King Sabata Dalindyebo in Lusaka in 1986.