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. 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.
