The attack on King Dalindyebo over his meeting with Israeli diplomats shows how little tolerance the ANC has for leaders it cannot control, writes Zukile Majova in Real Politics.
Power makes people arrogant. And the ANC has been in power long enough to believe it owns every inch of this country and every opinion in it.
That’s why ANC leaders lashed out at AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo for meeting with Israeli diplomats. They say he betrayed South Africa’s foreign policy by welcoming a country that the ANC has declared an enemy.
But South Africa is bigger than the ANC. And our democracy was never meant to be run like a one-party state.
The country belongs to the people, and its traditional leaders are not beholden to politicians. The ANC has no right to bully kings and queens into following party lines.
The truth is, many South Africans – especially Christians – feel a strong spiritual connection to Israel. Many support the people of Israel, not Hamas. And many want peace, not politics.
What the ANC calls “solidarity” with Palestine is not shared by all. The ANC may love Hamas, but not everyone sees Hamas as freedom fighters. Some see them as terrorists.
King Dalindyebo visited Israel, spoke his mind, and said what millions of South Africans are thinking. That the ANC has failed to deliver basic services and is now trying to silence those who offer real help.
The king’s Israeli guests promised to help with clean drinking water in Mthatha and Qunu, where taps have been dry for years. The ANC promised water decades ago and failed. Now that someone else steps up, they scream betrayal.
The king called Hamas “criminals”, praised Israel’s restraint, and said if it were up to him, Israel should have wiped Hamas out. That’s his opinion. He has a right to it. He didn’t ask the ANC for permission.
And for saying that, he was labelled a “counter revolutionary” by ANC secretary Fikile Mbalula and Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane. They accused him of selling out to imperialists.
But the king’s position is personal and faith-based. He isn’t launching a new foreign policy. He’s showing leadership, building ties that might actually help his people — who are tired of waiting for government to do its job.
Days after the king hosted the Israeli delegation, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation kicked out Israel’s top diplomat. They said Ariel Seidman, the chargé d’affaires, had 72 hours to leave the country.
Why? Because the ANC was embarrassed. It had to punish someone, and it couldn’t touch the king.
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies was outraged. They said, “Just days after Israel offered water solutions to a desperate community, DIRCO expelled the Israeli diplomat, diverting attention from real domestic issues.”
They’re right. This was not about diplomacy. It was about control.
The ANC cannot stand it when someone steps out of line — especially someone with power they cannot fire or silence.
But traditional leaders don’t report to politicians. Our clans and nations have existed for centuries. The Zulu kingdom, the Xhosa nation, the Batswana and the Venda people all have their own customs, leaders and histories.
The ANC came into power in 1994. These kingdoms were here long before — and will still be here long after the ANC is gone.
The party must learn to coexist with traditional leadership. That means respecting their independence, listening to their concerns and not treating them like rogue branches of the party.
We need a new kind of tolerance in this country — one where political and traditional leaders can disagree without threats or insults. One where people are free to choose their friends without being told who to hate.
Imagine if tomorrow the ANC picked a fight with India. Would they order all South Africans to cut ties with the Indian community? Ban curry and Bollywood? Block trade and weddings?
It’s madness.
We live with people of all faiths and backgrounds. We have friendships, families and neighbours who come from all over the world. No political party can control those connections.
King Dalindyebo stood his ground. He refused to be bullied by politicians, and he reminded us that leadership is not about slogans — it’s about action.
While the ANC argues over who South Africans are allowed to talk to, others are getting things done.
And that’s the real reason they’re angry.
Pictured above: King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo hosted Israeli diplomats in Mthatha
Image source: Isreali in South Africa/ Facebook Page
