Billionaire Patrice Motsepe and former president, Nelson Mandela also bought cars for King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.
This was revealed by the monarch at his Nkululekweni Palace in Mthatha on Saturday, shortly before he accepted a luxury Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV from EFF leader, Julius Malema.
The gift was unveiled by Malema and his deputy, Floyd Shivambu, at a glitzy red-carpet event.
The EFF leader lived up to a promise he made while on the campaign trail, just before the municipal elections, when he said he would buy Dalindyebo a vehicle.
Dismissing and ridiculing public opinion that Malema was bribing him for votes, Dalindyebo said, “I want you to know that the ANC also bribed me. Mandela bought me a van when he was still the president of the ANC, yet no one said anything about that.”
He also revealed when he was released from prison in 2019, he did not have a car and was helped out by Motsepe.
“Motsepe bought me a Tucson. It’s still in a good condition, being driven around by my father-in-law.”
Dalindyebo said, “If you are in your right mind, why would Patrice Motsepe bribe me? Make no mistake he is a member of the ANC. He did not give me a car because of politics.”
He rubbished the bribe claims, adding he was not bribable and he proved so when he left the ANC, despite getting a van from Mandela.
“The CIC [Malema] knows me that I am not someone to be bribed.”
He also took a swipe at the ANC, saying it wanted to turn kings into “ceremonial sluts”.
Dalindyebo did not elaborate on his statement.
Explaining his friendship with Malema, he said they both leaned on each other for support after they were “reduced into orphans by the ruling party”.
The ANC expelled Malema in February 2012 despite him begging for mercy, while Dalindyebo was imprisoned by Jacob Zuma’s administration.
During his speech, he said the EFF leader deserved to be made an honorary chief of the AbaThembu.
