South Africa’s Aba Thembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo handed himself over to authorities on Wednesday minutes before the lapse of his deadline to turn himself in, and is now set to serve time behind bars.
The traditional king reportedly underwent internal incarceration procedures before being admitted as an inmate.
Dalindyebo was convicted for arson, kidnapping and other crimes in a case that highlighted tension between sovereignty of the state and traditional authority structures.
The king of the Thembu people was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2009, but the punishment was reduced to 12 years after a manslaughter conviction was rejected on appeal.
South Africa’s justice minister on Tuesday rejected a petition to reopen the case against Dalindyebo, leaving him with very few legal options.
Dalindyebo is a flamboyant figure who once threatened to secede from South Africa, an announcement that received huge criticism.
He also drew attention for supporting South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, and criticizing the President Jacob Zuma, reportedly saying that he would stop consuming drugs “the day Zuma stops being corrupt.”
The king said that he acted in the best interest of his subjects. Some supporters had suggested that another person be selected to serve the king’s prison sentence on his behalf.
