Royal Houses distance themselves from King Dalindyebo's endorsement of Israel

The Royal Houses of AmaNdungwana and AmaQiya have publicly disassociated themselves from King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, condemning his recent 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.

The Houses said such conduct was fundamentally incompatible with the anti-apartheid legacy of the Thembu people.

“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.

They said Dalindyebo's actions were a profound disappointment for a monarch whose lineage is tied to Nelson Mandela's legacy.

"It is therefore a source of profound collective disappointment that a monarch of the AbaThembu, whose title carries the weight of a heritage exemplified by Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela, would choose to stand alongside the architects of occupation rather than with the oppressed."

The Royal Houses said the latest controversy was not an isolated incident but part of a wider pattern of behaviour that had brought the Kingship into disrepute and raised serious questions about leadership, accountability, and national unity.

As a result, they have called for a formal convocation of the AbaThembu to consider the future of the Kingship and whether Dalindyebo remains fit to carry the role. 

"When a leader demonstrates public sympathy for the proponents of apartheid and genocide, the fundamental question of his fitness to hold such a sacred trust must be examined."

The Houses asserted that no leader, including the King, stands above the collective will of the AbaThembu nation.

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