Pretoria - ANC heavyweight Dr Mathole Motshekga will seek to interdict the traditional inauguration of Prince Lukukela Modjadji that would pave the way for him to ascend to the throne to rule the Balobedu nation in Khetlhakone, Modjadjiskloof in Limpopo.
This comes after the Balobedu Royal Council and regent Mpapatla Modjadji announced in a letter to the Balobedu nation this week, that they were preparing to hold a traditional and cultural ceremony to prepare Prince Lukukela for the crown, plunging the royal battle for the crown back into the spotlight.
In 2018 President Cyril Ramaphosa had recognised Princess Masalanabo Modjadji as the legitimate heir to the throne.
Speaking to Pretoria News yesterday, former ANC leader and lawyer Dr Matthews Phosa, who is representing Motshekga, said that they were preparing to hand over a “cease and desist” letter to Mpapatla and the Royal Council yesterday in an attempt to stop the ceremony from taking place.
Phosa said: “We are preparing a legal notice ‘cease and disist’ letter that will be sent to Modjadji’s Royal council today (yesterday). “The Modjadji Royal Council will have until Friday to commit that they cease and desist the ceremony or face an application for an interdict on Monday,” he said.
Princess Masalanabo, who will be 18 in January next year, is the younger sister to Prince Lukukela, and both are children of late Rain Queen Makobo Modjadji, who died after a short illness in June 2005. She was tipped to take over as Queen Modjadji VII once she reached the constitutionally required age limit of 18. She is the only daughter of Queen Makobo.
Princess Masalanabo was adopted and raised by ANC stalwart Mathole Motshekga, who last year took the matter to court, for the Balobedu nation to recognise Princess Masalanabo as the incoming queen at her coming of age on January 20.
In 2019 the Modjadji royal family accused Motshekga, who was the queendom’s legal adviser at the time, of turning Princess Masalanabo against them in a bid to “hijack” the throne, and have now decided to install Prince Lukukela as king.
The Balobedu nation has for years been ruled by a woman who is believed to have powers to summon rain.
However, the Royal Council believe it is time for change, saying that Princess Masalanabo was not ready because she had not gone through the proper ritual channels to become queen.
Speaking to Pretoria News yesterday, the Balobedu Royal Council spokesperson, also representing Prince Mpapatla, Ronnie Maroatshehla said the ceremony would continue, calling Motshekga an “outsider” who wanted to “impose himself” on the royal family “using” Princess Masalanabo.
Asked if Princess Masalanabo was invited to the cultural ceremony, Moroatshehla said that she was not yet invited but they were working on it.
In a statement sent out earlier this week, the Royal Council dismissed all concerns raised ahead of Prince Lukukela’s traditional inauguration.
“The Modjadji Royal Council under the leadership of his majesty Bakhoma Mpapatla has duly noted concerns pertinent to the announcement made about the identification of his royal highness Prince Lukukela Modjadji to the heir of the Kingdom,” it said.
Responding to questions from Pretoria News, Motshekga said the Royal Council was self-imposed and he was preparing for Princes Masalanabo’s coronation when she comes of age.
“Her Majesty Queen Masalanabo Modjadji VII will turn 18 on the 20th January 2023. The Balobedu Royal Council has begun preparations for her coronation, which will take place on the 11th April 2023. The preparation will start formally during the Rain Making Ceremony.
Meanwhile, Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma this week announced that government could not get involved because the matter was still before court.
Pretoria News