King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s fiery defence of Israel and his attack on South African leaders has ignited a fresh political storm at home, with one political expert warning that his controversial visit to Israel could leave “lasting political and diplomatic consequences” for the country.
This follows a video posted on social media by the embassy of Israel in South Africa, Dalindyebo absolved and justified Israel of its genocide in Gaza.
Dalindyebo’s comments escalated when he took aim at the South African government, criticising its stance against Israel and its case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
"We would like people like Cyril Ramaphosa and Mandla Mandela not to continue with their propaganda… Israel was very lenient in its retaliation," he said.
His remarks stand in stark contrast to the testimony of Mandla Mandela, who was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a 40-vessel humanitarian mission intercepted by Israeli forces. Mandela recalled the ordeal activists endured after being detained in international waters.
"We were intercepted in international waters… We were denied food… Our hands were tied behind our backs," he said, describing how they were “paraded” before Israelis upon arrival.
Political analyst and MEARI research fellow Kenneth Kgwadi warned that King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s visit to Israel carries significant political weight, arguing that the battle over global opinion is now as fierce as any physical conflict.
Kgwadi said the escalating fallout must be understood within a broader struggle to “win, control, and dominate the public discourse,” noting that many international actors deliberately shape narratives to gain sympathy or moral legitimacy.
Referencing the events of October 7, he said: “Hamas knew very well that the response of Israel would be impactful for killing innocent people. But their focus was on disturbing the signing of the Abraham Accord… their plan worked on stopping that and to depict themselves not only as victims but innocent even after killing people.”
He added that this manipulation of global perception fuelled international solidarity protests and contributed to increasingly hostile media coverage of Israel.
“There is a danger, like in any other conflicts, of spreading lies to control the narratives, and people should be aware of that,” he cautioned.
Kgwadi said Israel responded by opening its doors to international delegations, including King Dalindyebo, to counter what it viewed as misrepresentation.
“They allowed and invited groups of people around the world to go and witness for themselves what they were not being told by the world’s media,” he noted.
He warned that the King’s pro-Israel remarks could reverberate far beyond the moment.
“There would be lasting political and diplomatic implications regarding the visit of the King to Israel. He is an influential figure with a lot of following.”
Kgwadi said Dalindyebo’s comments may prompt ordinary South Africans to re-examine long-held assumptions about government policy and media portrayals of the conflict.
“His sentiments trigger people to question the media content they usually get… It is not all political parties that are hostile to Israel, and the foreign policy stance by SA on Israel is never going to be permanent,” he argued.
He added that despite the ANC’s strong anti-Israel posture, this stance did not translate into electoral gains.
“The recent elections also showed that the hostility against Israel could not translate into victory for the ANC in 2024. What does it say about how people feel on the ground?”
Kgwadi emphasised that traditional leaders, like other community stakeholders, have a legitimate role in shaping foreign policy debates, especially as global conflicts increasingly affect local realities.
“Look at Zimbabwe, Zimbabweans who have fled their country are residing and integrating with South Africans in rural areas where traditional kings are ruling, this shows you how these international conflicts affect these kings and queens in South Africa.
“The conflicts from the Middle East have driven people to South Africa who are now competing with South Africans for scarce resources,” he added.
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za