King snubs ANC centenary celebrations

King snubs ANC centenary celebrations
2012-01-05 08:03


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Mthatha - Controversial Eastern Cape AbaThembu king, Buyelekhaya Dalidyebo, has vowed that he will not honour the ANC invitation to its centenary celebration in Mangagung this coming weekend.

His spokesperson Phumla Matshaya said the king was not happy about the ANC's co-ordination of the celebration and particularly with the "distortion of history" concerning the origins of the ANC.

"On our discussions on this matter, the king indicated he was concerned about the unprincipled tricks employed by ANC cadres who distorted the formation of the ANC.

"For instance the ANC was formed by his late father King Sabata Dalindyebo and many others close to him. But they have received no mention in the ANC records for this celebration. The king is offended by that," said Matshaya.

Matshaya said the history of ANC could not be divorced from the history of the Tembuland nation.

"But the ANC has done so, and has failed on numerous occasions to acknowledge this nation's contribution."

Meanwhile a close adviser to King Dalindyebo, Chief Nkosiphendulo Qashani, said he was surprised that the ANC was celebrating a centenary this year.

"How do they celebrate a centenary for an organisation formed in 1906? Well, they are able to do so because they have the power to document distorted history," said Qashani.

Qashani said the Abathembu nation would remain unrepresented in the celebrations.

ANC unaware of concerns

ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said the ANC was not aware of the concerns that the king was raising at this point, and denied that there was any distortion of history over the origins of the ANC.

"We know that their great King Sabata was there in the founding of the organisation, but when you document you cannot mention everybody who was there, or you would never finish," said Mthembu.

Mthembu promised to raise the issue with the high level leadership of the ANC.

"Last time we heard, the Abathembu were coming and were bringing a present as they did long ago. So we are shocked to hear that he is not coming anymore," said Mthembu.

Dalindyebo also failed to attend a celebration in honour of his late father King Sabata Dalindyebo, which was organised by the South African Heritage Council.

He had indicated that the event was just to harass and annoy his ancestors since the royal protocol procedures were not followed.

He was reported to have locked himself in his royal palace and refused all attempts and pleadings to attend the event.


- SAPA
Read more on: anc | buyelekhaya dalidyebo | east london | bloemfontein | anc centenary | politics

John - January 5, 2012 at 08:12 Report comment
What a bunch of self-serving, superstitious fools we have supposedly governing this once great country!!
12210 Reply to John | 12 comments (hide)

Squeegee - January 5, 2012 at 08:18 Report comment
"I won't go because I did not get any of the catering tenders! There was no place for me on the gravy train." Watch this farse cost over R1 bil.
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jay035 - January 5, 2012 at 08:30 Report comment
u such an ass*hole if u believe that this was once a great country, just because the white minority lived in luxury while the black majority were relegated to mere slaves in their country does not make the country great unless ofcurse you are just like the rest of them racist crackers who commented here!!! I dont really know what was so great about thousands and thousands of people being killed by your previous stupid govt for demanding their birthright which is freedom, but ofcourse they is always gona be idiots like yourselves who believe that the country will once again be ruled by the nationalist racist party,.....The National Party use to celebrate victories after killing freedom fighters whom they considered to be terrorists I bet you ddnt complain then did ...South Africa will be run by the ANC for a very long time u better start getting used to it of retrace ur ancestors steps.u one of the reasons why people will always vote for the ANC because the alternative party is a good party albeit comprised of racists like yourself.
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Fenderbender - January 5, 2012 at 08:34 Report comment
We are in for one of the best comic shows in the history of politics in the world, beats John Cleese playing the pope. The bickering, name calling, I did this, I deserve this ... blah blah blah, Oh and who has not slept with Winnie.
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ubhejane - January 5, 2012 at 08:39 Report comment
Fenderbender!!!!!!!!!!

Don't talk about our Queen like that. Go wash your mouth with OMO!!!!
2169

(SAPA)