Nelson Mandela’s nephew King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo arrested after ‘trying to kill son in axe rampage’
NELSON Mandela’s nephew has been arrested for allegedly trying to kill his son with an axe at a royal homestead.
King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo had only just been freed from jail when he is accused of breaking into the Thembu royal palace in the early hours.
King Dalindyebo is leader of South Africa's AbaThembu, the traditional clan of Mandela.
He allegedly attacked his son Azenathi, who was appointed the acting monarch while he was in prison for assaulting some members of his clan and setting their homes alight.
The two have been reported to have a rocky relationship, and King Dalindyebo opposes his son succeeding him as leader.
Last month, the royal household decided that Azenathi should continue on as regent for at least another year, South Africa's City Press paper reported.
PALACE RAMPAGE
Azenathi escaped through a window but his wife was injured and taken to hospital.
South African police confirmed Friday that King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has been charged with malicious damage to property and assault by threats.
Dalindyebo's arrest follows his release on parole in December last year after serving four years of a 12-year sentence for aggravated assault, kidnapping, arson and defeating the ends of justice.
He was granted parole after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last year that certain catagories of prisoners should be released.
It in unclear at this stage how the new allegations against him will affect his parole and his application for a presidential pardon, which is currently being considered by Ramaphosa, according to Justice Minister Ronald Lamola.
In 2013, Dalindyebo controversially denounced the ruling African National Congress party, claiming the party and its then leader Jacob Zuma were corrupt and had distorted Mandela's legacy.
He joined the liberal opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, which withdrew his membership after he was sent to jail.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.