Abathembu king's invitation to Israeli officials out of order, says ANC

THE ANC in the Eastern Cape has accused AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo of betraying the principles that his forefathers fought for during the Struggle for liberation.

This after the king led a delegation of officials from the Israeli embassy during a recent visit to public hospitals in the province.

During a briefing held after the party's Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) Lekgotla on Monday, ANC officials expressed their disappointment at the king's actions.

ANC provincial secretary general Lulama Ngcukayitobi called on the king to reflect on his recent behaviour, saying the king has compromised his people and the entire South African government, whose principled stance is against the human rights violations against the people of Palestine.

"This is a matter that the AbaThembu tribe must reflect on. It is very concerning because he has betrayed what his father and forefathers stood for and fought for the liberation of the people of South Africa. They fought against apartheid and the Bantustan regime, and his father died in exile in Zambia,'' stated Ngcukayitobi.

King Dalindyebo recently defended the visits, saying he has no legal obligations to consult with the South African president or the provincial government regarding his decisions.

In his justification, he positioned the visit as an opportunity for collaboration, dismissing accusations that he was welcoming those responsible for serious human rights violations.

Ngcukayitobi  said inviting a delegation from a regime associated with oppression undermines the longstanding, principled stance of the South African government against Israel.

"We believe that the king was completely out of order for having gone out of his way, without consulting anybody, to invite the worst enemies of the people, presiding over the apartheid state of Israel, who have butchered the people of Palestine and think they can bring clean drinking water for the people of the Eastern Cape," he added.

In December, the EFF expelled Dalindyebo from the party following his visit to Israel, while last week.

Speaking on behalf of the king, Ntando Dalindyebo accused the ANC in the province of having failed the people of the Eastern Cape.

She said the king was doing the best he could to help his people, who are suffering service delivery challenges at the hands of the ANC.

Ntando further questioned the timing of the decision by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), which on Friday gave Ariel Seidman, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli Embassy, 72 hours to pack and leave the country, thus declaring him an undesirable person.

The king believes that the expulsion of Seidman was an attempt to stop the donation that the Israeli government had promised the people of the Eastern Cape.

Regarding the ongoing conflict and its impact on the Palestinian people, Ntando expressed sympathy, stating: "We do feel for the people of Palestine and the lives that have been affected. We have seen what is happening there, and my father, the king, has had many questions about it.

"However, we cannot deny that lives have been taken on both sides. We also recognise that Israel has been supportive of the King and his people. We remain hopeful that the two parties will find common ground at some point."

Cape Times