Johnathan Paoli
AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has come to the rescue of hungry students left out in the cold.
Dalindyebo slaughtered an ox and a sheep on Monday in order to feed hungry students at King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College (named after his father), who have not received their funds from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme for three months running.
Last week 200 students clashed with police for three days last week during violent protests outside the college’s Cicirha campus gates over the funding with some injuries reported.
Over the weekend, the AbaThembu king made news hedlines when he called on the people of South Africa to vote the ANC out of power, in light of service delivery failures.
Dalindyebo said in light of the ruling party’s increasing failures, it should “be killed”.
“I would buy the coffin myself, and the people of South Africa should never rest but fight at all costs to remove this corrupt ANC from power,” he said during a visit by the EFFs deputy president Floyd Shivambu.
Dalindyebo’s critique of the ANC joins calls by several traditional leaders, including amaZulu king Misuzulu who attacked the failures of the ruling party throughout the last three decades and the lack of effective transformation.
Dalindyebo made headlines again when attended the manifesto launch of the ANC in the Eastern Cape at the beginning of the month despite his public support for the EFF.
However, he defended his attendance saying in celebration of his birthday as a traditional leader, there was a civil obligation to meet with all major parties.
He said despite sharing a stage with ANC Provincial Chairperson Oscar Mabuyane, he was disappointed with the ANC and his commitment to the EFF remains in place.
EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo confirmed Dalindyebo was still a loyal member of the party, and especially as the king of a nation, the red berets did not bar him from attending other political organisations’ rallies.
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