The battle for the throne of Balobedu nation is set to take another turn as former ANC MP Mathole Motshekga has asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to recognise Princess Masalanabo Modjadji, who recently turned 18, as the Rain Queen.
Masalanabo celebrated her birthday in a glittering event in Pretoria on Saturday, which was attended by, among others, businesswoman Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe and businessman Siza Rikhotso. She was celebrating coming of her age – paving way for her crowning, which Motshekga proposes to be held in August.
Masalanabo’s guardian Motshekga told Sowetan that they had written to President Ramaphosa requesting him to recognise Masalanabo as the rightful heir to the throne instead of her brother Leukukela, who has been announced as the next king by the Modjadji Royal Council.
“We have written to President Ramaphosa to recognise Princess Masalanabo because now she has turned 18 and is ready to resume her birthright position. It was the government that appointed her uncle Mpapatla Modjadji as a regent because she was still a minor. Now that she has come of age, she should assume her responsibility. Suddenly everything has changed because she wants to assume her rightful place... that is not democracy,” said Motshekga.
Masalanabo has been raised by the Motshekgas in Gauteng following the death of her mother, Queen Makobo Modjadji VI, in 2005. The royal house has always held a view that Masalanabo was not raised according to the tribe’s traditions and rituals. They accused Motshekga of influencing Masalanabo to turn her back on her brother and her language, Khelobedu.
The issue has been a bone of contention between the royal house and Motshekga’s Balobedu Royal Council, which is not a recognised structure by government.
The Modjadji Royal Council spokesperson Ronnie Moroatshehla said the succession matter was still sub judice as Motshekga had challenged their decision to appoint Prince Lekukela and asked the court to review the matter. He said they were waiting for the court to set a date for the matter to be heard.
“We want the court to put a stop on this circus and give an order on what needs to be done. We are going to pursue this matter to finality ... and it’s not that we hate Masalanabo but we need to restore order in the royal family,” he said.
Moroatshehla said they wish Motshekga can release Masalanabo to her family.
“We have not disowned Princess Masalanabo. She is one of us, and we call on Motshekga to let her go,” he urged.
Selomela Rasebotsa, Balobedu Royal Council secretary, said the inauguration would take place in August, a date chosen by Princess Masalanabo herself.
“Princess Masalanabo chose the date of the ceremony because she wants the event to resonates with all the women during their month of August. “Now that she turned 18 in January and no longer a minor, she would guide us towards her inauguration,” he said.
Rasebotsa said they would not be going to court over the crown as they believed Masalanabo was the rightful heir to the throne and this was acknowledged by government through an event held in 2018.
“When President Cyril Ramaphosa came to Mokwakwaila Stadium, he announced that our Queen-elect was still very young and when she became of age she will assume her responsibilities,” said Rasebotsa.
Asked if the president had received Motshekga’s request for Masalanabo’s recognition certificate, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said such petition would have to come via the cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) ministry.
Cogta minister Thembi Nkadimeng’s spokesperson Tsekiso Machike said: “No one one has seen this letter. We have not received it. It appears the letter has not reached the minister and the department.”
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