Ramaphosa 'considering' King Dalindyebo pardon
The Presidency has confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa received a recommendation from Justice Minister Micheal Masutha to pardon King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.
President Ramaphosa will now study the recommendations and communicate his decision to the King.
"The president is considering the recommendation as put before him and any other legal options he has in this regard,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko says.
The AbaThembu King is serving a 12 year prison sentence on several charges, including kidnapping and assault.
Earlier this month, Ramaphosa was given an ultimatum by three traditional rulers from the Eastern Cape to release King Dalindyebo from prison or lose critical votes in the region on election day.
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However, Diko has denied the move is meant to secure votes ahead of the May 8 polls.
"It's really unfortunate there are communities that have thought to use this as an election ploy. In fact, the issue of a presidential pardon being granted to the King is not one that is being fast-tracked, instead it's one that has been delayed because a request for the granting of the pardon to his Majesty King Dalindyebo would have come from Contralesa [Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa] in 2016."
"But nonetheless, the president is not considering any pardons including that of King Dalindyebo with a view to the elections. In fact he finds, quite repulsive any indication, any threat, any intimidation that says that this pardon must be considered going towards election day. "
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