WATCH | Malema hands keys of R1.8m Mercedes to Dalindyebo — bribery claims swatted aside

There was excitement, ululation and dancing as AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo received his special gift of an R1.8-million Mercedes from the EFF on Saturday.

The king showed off his popular dance moves shortly before he received the keys from to  EFF commander-in-chief Julius Malema at the monarch's Nkululekweni Private residence in Mthatha on Saturday.

Malema had promised the Dalindyebo a new SUV during his campaigning for the local government elections in Mthatha after the king called on all AbaThembu to vote for the EFF to teach the ANC a lesson, during a rally at Mandela Park.

While some critics claimed that this was bribery, on Saturday Malema, former EFF national chair advocate Dali Mpofu and the king lashed out at the suggestion.

Dalindyebo said it was surprising that there were only complaints when the gift came from the EFF.

“I got gifts of vehicles from Madiba (Nelson Mandela) while he was president of the ANC and also from Patrice Motsepe. Motsepe is ANC. Would you say that was bribery? No. Why now is a donation from the EFF called bribery?” asked Dalindyebo.

Malema said there were no complaints when ANC president gifted cows to kings and traditional leaders.

“Now that it's the EFF people are questioning our motives. These are our kings. This is not the first time we have given presents to our monarchs, we also honoured the late AmaZulu King Goodwill Zwelithi,” he said.

The entire EFF national leadership was present and the keys were presented to the king by Malema and his deputy Floyd Shivambu.

The excited monarch said he feel like a new king.

There were about 400 people including traditional leaders who came to witness the handover.

Malema said the EFF relationship with the king was not new or because of the elections.

“We visited him prison and we pleaded with him to eat when he was on hunger strike. We have been there with the king during his trying moments while everyone else dumped him,” said Malema.

On the death this week of the country's last apartheid president, Dalindyebo said he had personally forgiven FW de Klerk and said that the role he plaid in creating peace should be recognised.

DispatchLIVE

They said that this was in line with the ancient customary practice called ukukhahlela where visitors to traditional leaders would present them with gifts.

Mpofu said: “They brought horses, cows or whatever. So what we have done is no different to those who would bring a present of a cow or horse and there is absolutely nothing wrong of that, this is not bribery and would never be.”

He said the king was the father of all political parties  and all can donate atao him.