WeeklySA_AdminFOREIGN POLICY: Royal house seeks to ease tensions over the Israeli-sponsored ‘fact-founding tour’ that has triggered divided public opinion…
By Joseph Chirume
The AbaThembu Royal House has appointed a delegation to engage the South African government on King Buyilekhaya Dalindyebo’s trip to Israel.
The AbaThembu king travelled to Israel as part of a delegation hosted by Israel’s foreign affairs minister, Gideon Sa’ar.
The purpose of the visit was for the king to gain an “authentic picture” of the situation on the ground after the October 7 2023 attack by meeting people and experiencing the country first-hand.
The king sparked a controversy after leading a delegation on a recent visit to Israel, and more so when unleashing – upon return – a blistering attack on his own government’s foreign policy and the South African media.
The visit saw the king and his delegation meet with officials in Jerusalem and reportedly visit sites near the Gaza border including the site of the Nova Festival and a kibbutz attacked during the October 7 2023 events.
On his return on December 5, Dalindyebo said his visit was motivated by a desire to “love Israel” asserting that there should be “someone who loves Israel” amid what he described as a prevailing anti-Israel atmosphere in South Africa.
“If ANC has a policy, then it can f**ck off with its policy,” Dalindyebo told a media briefing.
“You are taking sides in your questions … If you treat me like a lumpen, I will treat you like a sl***t,” he told journalists, accusing them of being “prostitutes of the ANC.”
Defending his refusal to visit Gaza or meet Palestinians, he declared his views on the militant group Hamas were finalised by what he saw in Israel:
“I would not go to Gaza… Hamas is a club of criminals that hides behind politics and religious beliefs,” he said.
Dalindyebo argued that as a traditional leader, and not just a ceremonial figure, his institution should have been consulted on foreign-policy matters.
On the other hand, the Royal Houses of AmaNdungwana and AmaQiya publicly disassociated themselves from King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, condemning his recent diplomatic engagements and utterances on Israel and Palestine, warning that his conduct is damaging the reputation of the AbaThembu nation.
The Houses said their position was driven by a sense of duty to uphold the historical and moral foundations of the Thembu people, who remain an influential part of South Africa’s liberation heritage.
They stressed that Dalindyebo’s actions had placed the royal institution under intense scrutiny.
The Houses said such conduct was fundamentally incompatible with the anti-apartheid legacy of the Thembu people.
“King Buyelekhaya’s visit to Israel can only be interpreted as a deliberate engagement in a campaign of political propaganda,” they said in a statement.
Cape Town protest
Meanwhile, dozens of people lined the street opposite the Cape Town Holocaust and Genocide Centre on Tuesday, calling for the centre to recognise Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, reports GroundUp.
The vigil was organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and supported by several organisations, including SA Jews for a Free Palestine.
The vigil also marks International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide.
Citing an Amnesty International report, organisers said genocide in Gaza was “increasingly recognised and documented”. There have been previous calls for the Centre to acknowledge genocide in Gaza.
The group also wants the South African government to cut all ties with Israel.
“We gather to honour the Palestinians who have endured over two years of relentless genocidal violence by the Israeli apartheid regime,” the PSC said in a statement.
“We stand with all victims of genocide, past and present, across the world. The principle is universal: no people’s suffering is more deserving of remembrance than another’s.”
More than 360 people, including at least 70 children, have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire was announced in early October. – Additional reporting by Saturday Star and Mdntv
MIRROR Briefs
MOTION TO OUST PREMIER
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has expressed support for MK Party’s motion of no confidence against KZN Premier Thami Ntuli on Monday, 15 December 2025.
Malema addressed the media on the party’s election strategy ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. The MK party swept the floor in the 2024 elections in KZN, securing 37 of the 80 seats, but the opposition united to keep it out of power. The legislature has 80 members. If MK, EFF, and NFP were to form a pact, it would be divided 40–40, leaving the provincial government unable to pass any legislation. The MK party has 37 seats, the EFF has two, and the NFP has one. The IFP holds 15 seats, the ANC 14 and the DA 11. Malema said if the MK party was serious about taking the province, it should begin negotiating with other political parties as soon as possible.
Siboniso Duma, the second deputy convener in the ANC’s provincial task team (PTT), expressed confidence that the coalition would hold.
He personally knew all the ANC caucus members, some of whom he had known for decades. They were “trusted” and he was confident they would not vote in favour of the motion. – Lehlohonolo Lehana
ALARM OVER WC CRASHES
The Western Cape Mobility Department is deeply concerned about the alarming number of road incidents recorded in the first week of the festive season, from 1 to 7 December 2025.
According to the provincial government, a total 21 fatal crashes were reported across the province during this period, resulting in 28 fatalities on provincial roads.
Pedestrian deaths remained a significant and persistent challenge on Western Cape roads.
Of the 28 fatalities recorded, 12 were pedestrians, making them the single largest group affected this past week.
The other fatalities included 10 passengers, three drivers, two motorcyclists, and one cyclist.
Western Cape Mobility Minister, Isaac Sileku, said the numbers were extremely troubling, especially considering that the peak travel period had not even begun.
“Every life lost is a tragedy, and every family affected enters the festive season carrying pain instead of joy. Pedestrian safety remains one of our greatest concerns. We urge every road user, whether behind the wheel or walking alongside our roads, to exercise heightened caution.’’
During the reporting period, Provincial Traffic Services conducted over 200 integrated operations, including roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, and speed control activities.
In addition, 43 motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol during this period. – SA news
MATRIC EXAM LEAK SCANDAL
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has revealed that an examination breach was detected during the marking process for the 2025 National Senior Certificate exams.
“The breach was detected through the department’s internal monitoring and oversight systems,” the department said.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube held an urgent media briefing to provide more details about the breach. A preliminary investigation identified 26 pupils who had access to the leaked material — confirming that an exam breach had occurred. She said pupils admitted during interviews to having prior access to both the English papers, mathematics papers 1 and 2 and physical sciences papers 1 and 2.
“Upon studying the question paper, our investigators concluded that it could only have originated from the national department of basic education’s offices’’.
The spread appeared to be confined to identified pupils at seven schools in a specific area of Pretoria. “English home language papers 1, 2 and 3, mathematics papers 1 and 2 and physical sciences papers 1 and 2, were shared via a USB storage device.
Gwarube said two employees of the education department in Gauteng have been suspended and a criminal case had been lodged with the South African Police Service for investigation of theft of state property. One of the employees was a parent to one of the matric pupils, who was being investigated. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
UIF SCANDAL BUST
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) together with police specialised units, the Hawks and the Tactical Response Team (TRT) have conducted search and seizure operations across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng as part of an investigation into the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF) COVID-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS).
According to the corruption busting unit, a “sophisticated syndicate” allegedly siphoned some R161 million from TERS with the investigation linked to 16 companies and 35 individuals.
“The SIU investigation…has uncovered evidence suggesting a well-organised syndicate orchestrated the submission of false TERS applications on behalf of individuals who were not employees of the applicant companies.
“The substantial funds received were not paid to workers; instead, they were distributed among syndicate members in patterns consistent with money laundering,” the SIU said. “The seized evidence will undergo forensic analysis to support the investigation, and the SIU will pursue civil action to correct any wrongdoing identified and recover financial losses suffered by the State’’.
Key persons of interest included Thamsanqa Madlala whose company allegedly received R18 million in TERS funds; Yolanda Nombuso Mgobo, who has been identified as a central figure who allegedly received and distributed over R18.6 million in syndicate funds; Sphamandla Sokhela and Nhlakanipho Zondi, an attorney who were alleged proxies for Mngomezulu. – SAnews
