Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane wants Abathembu King, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, to prove the allegations he made against him. Dalindyebo accused the premier of being a beneficiary of extortionists.

 IMPLICATED

Dalindyebo made these damning allegations during a community meeting in Mthatha on 20 August, claiming that there are politicians involved in the extortion syndicate. "Actually, Oscar Mabuyane, I can prove it in any court, is a beneficiary of Mareke's stupid actions. The beneficiary! If he says I'm accusing him, he must prove me wrong. I'm telling him what he knows," said Dalindyebo.

Last week, a self-proclaimed Mthatha West chief Sakhumzi Mareke was shot and killed by the police during a shootout. Dalindyebo had accused the said chief of being an extortionist.

BRING IT ON

In an interview with Newzroom Afrika while discussing the progress in dealing with extortion in the province, Mabuyane expressed dissatisfaction in the King's statement. "I've heard what the king said.It is unfortunate that it was said by somebody like that. That's why I want police to investigate that," said Mabuyane. He said that he had never heard of Mareke until the recent shootout. He said although Defence Minister Angie Motshekga noted the province's plea for the deployment of SANDF and more police are on the ground, a lot still needs to be considered. "I'm opening a case, I'll be signing an affidavit today against anyone who says such things without facts because I want us to see the truth. We are the face of government- we are dealing with crime while he's saying things loosely, recklessly like that. Whether he has been briefed by some or is being used by some to do what he has done, it's something else," Mabuyane said. He added that he wants the police to investigate the matter.

Speaking for the Royal Abathembu Kingdom, Prince Zanothando Mtirara told ZiMoja that they can't comment on the matter.

 "We are dealing with the matter internally and don't have anything to say," he said.