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In
this Dec. 14, 2013 photo AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo attends the
state funeral of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Mthatha in
the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. (AP Photo/Siphiwe Sibeko, Pool)
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A tribal king in South
Africa faces lengthy jail time after being convicted of arson, kidnapping and
other crimes in a case that highlighted tension between sovereignty of the
state and traditional authority structures. Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, king of South
Africa's Thembu people, appeared to have few legal options after the justice
minister on Tuesday rejected a petition to reopen the case.
Associated Press report continues:
Dalindyebo,
currently out on bail, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2009, but the
punishment was reduced to 12 years after a manslaughter conviction was rejected
on appeal.
Dalindyebo
is a flamboyant figure who once threatened to secede from South Africa, an
announcement widely viewed as outlandish. He also drew attention for supporting
South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, and harshly
criticizing President Jacob Zuma, reportedly saying he would stop consuming
drugs "the day Zuma stops being corrupt."
The
king was prosecuted for burning homes and other violence against some of his
subjects in the 1990s.
In
an October ruling, an appeals court said Dalindyebo abused his position and
that the Constitution guarantees equal treatment under the law. Summarizing the
state's case, it said:
"Imagine
a tyrannical and despotic king who set fire to the houses, crops and livestock
of subsistence farmers living within his jurisdiction, in full view of their
families, because they resisted his attempts to have them evicted, or otherwise
did not immediately comply with his orders."
The
king said he acted in the best interests of his subjects. Some supporters
suggested that another person be selected to serve the king's prison sentence
on his behalf.
Nelson Mandela, the
anti-apartheid leader who became president, was a member of the Thembu group,
which speaks Xhosa. Dalindyebo was prosecuted in Mthatha, near Mandela's burial
site in Qunu village in Eastern Cape province.
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