Dalindyebo was admitted to the St Dominic's hospital in East London on Friday night after embarking on a hunger strike last Sunday.

EFF leader Julius Malema, who visited the king in prison yesterday, said he is in good spirits despite being hospitalised.

Malema said he and members of the EFF executive advised Dalindyebo to start eating again, which he agreed to do.

Correctional Services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela confirmed Dalindyebo had been admitted to hospital on Friday but declined to comment on the reason why.

Dalindyebo started serving his 12-year sentence last Wednesday after unsuccessfully trying several legal avenues to avoid jail.

In 2009, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for culpable homicide, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, arson, and kidnapping.

He was granted bail pending the outcome of his appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal.

In October last year, the SCA set aside his culpable homicide conviction and reduced his sentence to 12 years.

His crimes involved the treatment he meted out to some of his subjects in 1995 and 1996.

AlgoaFM