A South African king
has been sentenced to 12-year in prison for kidnapping, assault and administering
corporal punishment to the family of a man who failed to present himself before
his court.King Buyelekhaya
Dalindyebo reported to prison after his legal attempts to overturn his
conviction failed.
He is the first monarch
to be jailed since South Africa got independence in 1994.South Africa has 10
officially recognised monarchs representing different ethnic groups and clans.
King Dalindyebo was
accused of kidnapping a woman and her six children, setting their home on fire
and beating up four youths, one of whom died. He handed himself to prison
authorities in the eastern city of Mthatha in compliance with a court order
after a judge refused to extend his bail , the justice ministry said in a
statement.
King Dalindyebo had
maintained his innocence, saying he disciplined his subjects under customary
law. On the other hand his legal team had argued that the burning of the three
families’ homes did not amount to arson because technically, the properties
could be regarded as his own possessions.
The Supreme Court of
Appeals heard his case on August 21 before sentencing on Thursday.