Democratic Alliance spokesperson, Refiloe Nt’sekhe, said the decision was in line with the party’s constitution.

The SCA replaced the abaThembu king’s 15-year jail sentence with a 12-year term. It said he was lucky not to have received a heavier sentence.

He succeeded only in having his conviction on a charge of culpable homicide and the accompanying 10-year jail sentence set aside. The SCA dismissed the rest of his appeal.

In 2009, the Eastern Cape High Court sentenced him to 15 years for three counts of arson, seven of kidnapping, one of defeating the ends of justice, three of assault and one of culpable homicide.

Dalindyebo joined the DA in July 2013 after he had described the African National Congress and President Jacob Zuma as “corrupt hooligans”.

He made the remarks in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, at a prayer service for late former president, Nelson Mandela.

Dalindyebo said the ANC had distorted the anti-apartheid icon’s legacy and behaved arrogantly. He said he would stop smoking dagga the day Zuma stopped being corrupt.

The royal family subsequently apologised to Zuma.