A royal rift deepens as King Dalindyebo and Mandla Mandela clash over Israel

A royal rift deepens as King Dalindyebo and Mandla Mandela clash over Israel

A long-simmering feud between abaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo and ANC MP Mandla Mandela, one of Nelson Mandela’s grandsons, has burst back into the spotlight, this time over global politics, not palace disputes.

At the centre of the storm is Dalindyebo’s outspoken support for Israel, a position that has drawn fierce criticism from Mandela and other traditional leaders who say the king is undermining South Africa’s firmly pro-Palestine stance.

Pro-Israel remarks ignite public backlash

The king recently made headlines after hosting an Israeli delegation, shortly after returning from a visit to Israel himself. His comments went further than diplomatic niceties, he publicly aligned himself with Israel, described US President Donald Trump as an ally, and criticised global powers such as China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Those remarks quickly trended on social media, with critics questioning how a traditional monarch could openly oppose South Africa’s long-standing foreign policy positions, especially on Palestine.

Mandla Mandela pushes back

Mandla Mandela, an ANC MP and outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause, did not mince his words. He accused Dalindyebo of making reckless and “delusional” statements and called on abaThembu chiefs and communities in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal to distance themselves from the king’s stance.

Mandela has previously gone as far as threatening to push for Dalindyebo’s removal as king, a view echoed by some abaThembu traditional leaders who believe the monarch crossed a line by inviting an Israeli delegation to South Africa.

Divisions within the Mandela family

Adding another layer to the controversy is a visible split within the Mandela family itself.

Nelson Mandela’s granddaughters, Zamaswazi Dlamini-Mandela and Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway, also recently visited Israel. Their trip sparked intense debate because it stood in sharp contrast to Mandla Mandela’s position and to the late Madiba’s historical support for the Palestinian struggle.

The sisters described their visit as “eye-opening” and “life-changing”, saying it was aimed at showing solidarity with victims of the 7 October 2023 attacks and gaining insight into Israel’s security concerns.

Not an isolated shift

Dalindyebo’s stance is part of a broader pattern emerging in South African politics. Other leaders, including Patriotic Alliance figures Gayton McKenzie and Kenny Kunene, have visited Israel and returned with strong pro-Israeli views. Kunene even publicly labelled Hamas a terrorist organisation, sparking further controversy at home.

A clash bigger than personalities

What makes this feud resonate is that it goes beyond personal rivalries. It reflects a growing tension between South Africa’s liberation-era identity, rooted in solidarity with oppressed peoples, and newer political voices challenging that legacy.

For many South Africans, the clash between King Dalindyebo and Mandla Mandela is not just about Israel, it’s about who gets to speak for history, tradition and the country’s moral compass in a deeply divided world.

{Source: The Citizen}

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