By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The AbaThembu Royal Houses has appointed a delegation to engage the South African government on King Buyilekhaya Dalindyebo’s trip to Israel.
The aim is to engage the government on the matter and presumably manage the diplomatic and political implications of the King’s trip and statements.
The AbaThembu king travelled to Israel as part of a delegation hosted by Israel’s foreign affairs minister, Gideon Sa’ar.
The purpose of the visit was for the king to gain an “authentic picture” of the situation on the ground after the October 7 2023 attack by meeting people and experiencing the country firsthand.
The two AbaThembu Royal Houses condemned his diplomatic engagements and utterances on Israel and Palestine, warning that his conduct is damaging the reputation of the AbaThembu nation.
The Houses said their position was driven by a sense of duty to uphold the historical and moral foundations of the Thembu people, who remain an influential part of South Africa’s liberation heritage.
They stressed that Dalindyebo’s actions had placed the royal institution under intense scrutiny.
“King Buyelekhaya’s visit to Israel can only be interpreted as a deliberate engagement in a campaign of political propaganda,” they said in a statement.
While reiterating their condemnation of the October 7 attacks, they emphasised that the Palestinian pursuit of self-determination long predates that event and resonates deeply with South Africa’s own struggle against oppression.
“We would like people like Cyril Ramaphosa and Mandla Mandela not to continue with their propaganda. They must now get to know from the side of the Israelis. They endured the greatest of pain…Israel was very lenient in its retaliation,” Dalindyebo said.
He has accused the state of misleading the public and of supporting the Palestinian cause without first conducting an independent fact-finding mission.
They said Dalindyebo’s actions were a profound disappointment for a monarch whose lineage is tied to Nelson Mandela’s legacy.
Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has also criticised Dalindyebo for what she describes as the spread of misinformation.
Ntshavheni said the King is incorrect to suggest that South Africa requires a referendum to determine its foreign policy stance, noting that the country has never used referendums for such decisions. She further linked his comments to narratives originating in the United States and organisations such as AfriForum.