ABATHEMBU King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo will be spending Christmas with his family after his bail conditions were extended until 30 December.
This was decided by the Eastern Cape High Court in Umtata late this afternoon.
The king's lawyers told News24 that they were on their way to his compound in Nkululekweni, Mthatha, to brief him on developments. They were expected to issue a statement later today.
Earlier it was reported that Dalindyebo was refusing to hand himself over to start his 12 year sentence after being found guilty of culpable homicide, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, arson, and kidnapping.
The charges relate to Dalindyebo's mistreatment of his subjects between 1995 and 1996, on a farm he owned near Mthatha. Dalindyebo set fire to the houses of three tenants to evict them because he believed they had breached tribal rules. He publicly assaulted three young men for crimes they had allegedly committed.
His attempts to appeal his sentence went all the way to the Constitutional Court but failed.
Late on Tuesday, Dalindyebo appealed for clemency, saying he was a victim of injustice.
A petition was sent to the justice ministry by his lawyer Yasmin Omar.
Omar petitioned Justice Minister Michael Masutha to direct that the king's trial be reopened. Justice ministry spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said that the petition was being assesse
