
On Thursday, the Presidency confirmed receipt of a recommendation from Justice Minister, Michael Masutha, to pardon the imprisoned AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.
As reported by eNCA, the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa noted that it would study the thoughts of the justice minister and convey his decision to the king in due time.
Has Cyril Ramaphosa folded to the calls from traditional leaders? This news comes days after a group of monarchs from the Eastern Cape held a press briefing at Walter Sisulu University and Bumbane Great Place, respectively, with a clear message for the president: Grant Dalindyebo a presidential pardon or forfeit the province on election day.
It appears that, more than anything, these threats have been heeded by the powers that be.
Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Khusela Diko, confirmed that the president would action this request in line with the legal options available to him.
The president is considering the recommendation as put before him and any other legal options he has in this regard, Diko said in a statement.
Why is King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo in prison? Dalindyebo was, in December 2015, convicted to 12 years in prison for assault, kidnapping, arson, and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
This was for his direct involvement in the torching of homes belonging to a group of people who he was apparently disciplining. He was also accused of administering corporal punishment and the kidnapping of a man's family.
Regarding the latter, Dalindyebo's reason was that the man had apparently failed to show up to his court when he was summoned.
Will it be remittance or a presidential pardon? The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) had been highly critical of the party's perceived show of favour towards others, over the monarchs of the Eastern Cape where the party enjoys a stronghold.
It is a scandal that this government cannot forgive their own but our previous enemies who killed our families are easily pardoned. Contralesa's Kgosi Mathupa Mokoena had said at the body's national executive meeting in March.
Furthermore, according to reports from eNCA reporter, Karyn Maughan suggests that the issue right now is whether to grant the king a pardon or remittance.
The latter would allow Dalindyebo to be released from prison. However, his criminal record would not be removed, thus threatening his ability to reclaim his throne.
A presidential pardon, on the other hand, would wipe out whatever criminal record the king may have accrued in the past and offer him a new life, with no trace of a criminal background.
Presidency blasts rumours of election pressure from monarchs Diko was very critical about reports that the president is folding to the calls of traditional leaders and that his consideration of Masutha's recommendation is prompted by his fear of losing voter support in the Eastern Cape.
It's really unfortunate there are communities that have thought to use this as an election ploy. In fact, the issue of a presidential pardon being granted to the King is not one that is being fast-tracked, instead it's one that has been delayed because a request for the granting of the pardon to his Majesty King Dalindyebo would have come from Contralesa [Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa] in 2016, Diko added.
Tags: Cyril RamaphosaEastern CapePoliticsSouth Africa
Africa Stories
28/06/2025
Johannesburg, 27 June 2025 - As the nation commemorates Youth Month
2025, the N...
24/06/2025
Panels of the National Film and Video Foundation in Accordance with the NFVF Act...
13/06/2025
Johannesburg, 12 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an a...
11/06/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa - 10 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundati...
10/06/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa - 10 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundati...
06/06/2025
S o Paulo Film and Audiovisual Company (Spcine) and the National Film and Video ...
05/06/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa 4 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundatio...
29/05/2025
Rest in Power, a True Legend of Our Screens
Johannesburg, South Africa 27 May...
29/05/2025
Johannesburg, South Africa 28 May 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Vincent Blennies, has resigned from...
22/05/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
13/05/2025
The NFVF, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture that was create...
10/05/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
09/05/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
09/04/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...
08/04/2025
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Vincent Blennies as Chief Exec...
04/04/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites final-year animation students to submit character designs inspired by lead characters from any South Afric...
14/03/2025
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...
01/03/2025
Antis pticos Orales: Revisi n De La Literatura Y Perspectiva Actual Influenza son contradictorios, dadas las elevadas tasas de curaci n espont nea. De ser neces...
28/02/2025
The Future of Green Energy: Challenges and Prospects Green energy, also known as renewable energy, has emerged as a critical solution to global energy challenge...
27/02/2025
Beginner Coding in Python: Building the Simplest AI Chat Companion Possible
AI-powered Personal VoiceBot for Language Learning by Gamze Zorlubas
You can ear...
24/12/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is calling for applications from South African film and television filmmakers to be part of the NFVF's delegat...
06/12/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the cl...
30/11/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...
16/11/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation, an agency of the Department of Sport, Ar...
16/11/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites emerging female producers ...
16/11/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites current masters students t...
30/10/2024
Johannesburg, 26 October 2024 - The 18th Annual South African Film and Televisio...
30/10/2024
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND DOCUMENTARY
!Aitsa
Practitioner: Simon Kohler
Production House: MED CINE
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING DOCUMENTARY
Rise: The Si...
24/10/2024
In accordance with Section 6 (2) (c) of the National Film and Video Foundation A...
19/10/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites postgraduate students to s...
15/10/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (herein referred to as NFVF) is a statutory body set up by the government to grow and develop the South African Film and ...
11/10/2024
10 October 2024 Johannesburg, South Africa - The National Film and Video Found...
09/10/2024
Sportel stand number: Ravel Hall G06/07 After a summer filled with intense sport emotions in Paris, France and beyond, Globecast will be happy to welcome you...
04/10/2024
SAFTAs 18 Announces Date and Theme: Honouring Excellence in South African Film and Television with the theme Back to Basics . Johannesburg, South Africa Wedn...
04/10/2024
Johannesburg, South Africa Wednesday, 2 October 2024 The South African Film ...
01/10/2024
Johannesburg, South Africa - Monday, 30 September 2024 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (...
24/09/2024
Every little girl out there who has felt different because they are not what soc...
09/09/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (herein referred to as NFVF) is a statutory body set up by the government to grow and develop the South African Film and ...
06/09/2024
Johannesburg, 05 September 2024 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF),...
09/08/2024
Johannesburg, 8 August 2024 - It is with profound sadness that the National Film...
01/08/2024
Globecast to Showcase the Broadcast Industry's Most Advanced Connectivity and Hybrid Cloud Solutions at IBC 2024
PARIS, 1 August 2024 Globecast, the lead...
16/07/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
13/07/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
09/07/2024
The NFVF, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture that is created...
02/07/2024
Arabsat, ASBU and Globecast are commemorating 20 years with a renewed multi-year deal for Global Arabic Bouquet (GAB) services, providing a wide range of DTH di...
11/06/2024
Tuesday 11 June 2024, Johannesburg. The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF...
31/05/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the custodians of the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs), has learned of the allegations of ill-tr...
22/05/2024
Judge blocks auction of Elvis Presley's Graceland estateA judge in Tennessee has temporarily halted a foreclosure sale of Graceland, the historic home of El...