King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, nephew of former president Nelson Mandela and leader of the AbaThembu clan, condemned the presence of journalists in Qunu on Saturday.
The village in the Eastern Cape, which forms part of the king’s jurisdiction under Mandela’s grandson Chief Mandla Mandela, was abuzz with journalists maintaining a close eye on the former president’s house and the village.
Dalindyebo refused a request for an interview, and referred the media to his spokesperson Phumla Matshaya.
Matshaya said the king refused to be pulled into the media debate about his uncle’s health status and did not think offering commentary on the matter was both ethically and traditionally permissible.
“He believes that in times like these it is not for us to make speculation about a person’s life and he feels that Madiba’s health should not be something that the media romanticises,” said Matshaya.
She added that the king did “truly not want to be part of this drama”.
Matshaya said the king would not take part in a prayer session for Mandela in East London on Sunday, but was praying for him to get well soon.
Dalindyebo is the eldest son of the late King Sabata Dalindyebo who went into exile in 1986 after he was accusing of undermining the authority of the Transkei.
Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo left the country and grew up in Zambia.
He later joined the military group Umkhonto weSizwe. On his return to South Africa he reclaimed the throne and took over as king of AbaThembu.
Mandela had publicly announced that his nephew Dalindyebo would go back to school and finish his matric and thereafter enrol at Rhodes University. Dalindyebo however declined the offer.
In 2005, Dalindyebo was convicted for offences including kidnapping, culpable homicide, arson and assault.
The charges stemmed from violence against his villagers, who lived on Tyalara farm under his jurisdiction between 1995 and 1996.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison but has appealed the decision.
‘Doing very well’
Mandela was admitted to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg on Wednesday for what the Nelson Mandela Foundation called “routine checks”.
This was followed by a news blackout which led to a frenzy of rumours.
Acting President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Saturday that Mandela was “doing very well”.
“At the conclusion of the visit [to Mandela’s home in Houghton, Johannesburg] Mr Motlanthe said president Mandela was doing very well, is in good spirits and resting,” government spokesperson Themba Maseko said in a statement.
“Mr Mandela told Acting President Motlanthe that he was pleased to be back at home and spending quality time with his loved ones.
“Motlanthe urged everyone to remain calm. He said the elder statesman was receiving the best medical care possible under supervision of the surgeon general of the SA National Defence Force,” Maseko said. – Sapa