Cape Town - Former president Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla Mandela has reportedly laughed off a threat to remove his chieftaincy, labelling AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo "unstable" and "delusional".
The king called for Mandla to be expelled as chief of Mvezo, saying over the weekend he had lost all respect for Mandla following his dispute with other members of the Mandela family over the reburial of the remains of three of Mandela's children.
He also claimed that Mandla was not the legitimate heir to the chieftaincy.
The Cape Times reported on Monday that Mandla had laughed off the threat, saying through a spokesperson that chiefs were sacked after due processes, rather than at a king's whim.
"You don't just wake up one day and call a meeting of followers and make such a decision," his spokesperson Freddy Pilusa said.
Joining DA
Meanwhile, it emerged over the weekend that the king may himself be removed from his position. Sapa quoted his brother, Chief Daludumo Mtirara, as saying that the royal family was waiting for the government to process documents confirming his removal as head of the family.
Dalindyebo was sentenced to 15 years in jail for culpable homicide in 2004, after a man died on his farm. He has been out on bail since then, pending an appeal.
Dalindyebo also announced that he was not happy with the ruling ANC, and planned to join the Democratic Alliance as "a wonderful present to Madiba", the Cape Times reported.
He lashed out at President Jacob Zuma, calling him a "parasite".
"Zuma is no different from a parasite. Parasitic in origin, parasitic in the making and a serpent at heart. This is how I start my road to joining the DA," he said.
He recently said he would stop smoking dagga "the day President Jacob Zuma stops being corrupt", according to Sapa.
