The king is no stranger to controversy, he left the ruling African National Congress and joined the main opposition Democratic Alliance in July 2013, after publicly insulting President Jacob Zuma. He later apologised.

Chief Simphiwe Pantshwa, from the abaThembu royal family, told the BBC: “We are very shocked, he is a senior member of the royal family so there is a big sense of loss and uncertainty.”

“We do not want this to destabilise the royal house so we will be watching the developments with keen interest,” he said.

The case has caused divisions within the royal family, with some feeling the king was being victimised, while others were adamant that no-one should be above the law, says the BBC’s Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg.

With the seat soon to be vacant they are expected to look at appointing a new successor, who is likely to be the king’s 23-year-old son, according to reports.

Dalindyebo has two days to report to prison.

.Source: BBC