AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo launched an explosive verbal attack on the ANC-led government’s foreign policy and the South African media on Friday. Speaking on his return from a visit to Israel, he reaffirmed his pro-Israel stance saying there must be someone who “loves Israel” amid the country’s anti-Israel stance. The king was part of a delegation hosted by Israel foreign affairs minister Gideon Sa’ar.
Speaking to the media , Dalindyebo lost his temper when questioned about his traditional role “undermining” South Africa’s state foreign policy. He criticised the ANC’s policy on the Israel-Palestine conflict, including the government’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. “If ANC has a policy, then it can f* off with its policy,” he said.
“We are an institution that needs to be consulted when heads of states take such serious decisions or actions … Has the ANC done what we have done?” He accused the ANC of siding with Palestinians without conducting their own fact-finding mission on the events of October 7 2023 when Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel killing about 1,200 people. Dalindyebo escalated his attack by targeting President Cyril Ramaphosa directly, suggesting the state’s position lacked necessary consultation.
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“What consultations did he (Ramaphosa) do? Whether Ramaphosa is a head of state he must not act like a drunken monkey. We are not doing kung fu here.
The state is not Ramaphosa’s spaza. The state represents us.” The king justified his controversial visit by stating: “I took a stance because I was assisted by Israel at a time of need,” adding that he received “respect and dignity” from the highest authority in Israel, which he claims he does not receive at home despite repeated attempts to meet Ramaphosa. When asked if he would travel to Palestine to hear their side of the story, the king said he would not, stating his position on Hamas was solidified by what he had seen.
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