The Modjadji Royal Family has expressed jubilation, after a successful traditional ceremony held at the Modjadji Royal Residence in the village capital of Khetlhakone last week. The ceremony is a cultural rite of passage, consisting of sacred rituals including an all-night vigil drum beat dance known as Mosebetho, preparing the eldest of Queen Modjadji VI’s two children, King-Elect Lekukela Modjadji for the throne.
The ceremony was a private affair closed to the public and media. Only the Royal Family, the Royal Council, as well as Headmen and Headwomen entered the secluded Royal Palace as per custom.
“Prince Lekukela has now fulfilled all necessary traditional laws and customs to assume the position of King of Balobedu and is fit to rule the 400-year-old Dynasty as King Lekukela Modjadji VII”, said Modjadji Royal Council Spokesperson Ronnie Moroatshehla.
The road leading to the ceremony was, however, not a smooth one as ANC veteran Mathole Motshekga — the foster parent of Prince Lekukela’s younger sister Princess Masalanabo, filed an urgent interdict at the eleventh hour to prevent the ceremony.
Mathole lost the court battle with costs. Ululations filled the atmosphere when jubilant community members in Khetlhakone and Bolobedu in general heard of the judgement. Motshekga accused the courts of being ill informed, resulting in an erred judgement, and according to him, Princess Masalanabo is the rightful heir as recognised by Cyril Ramaphosa.
Moroatshehla vociferously dismissed Mathole’s comments as blatant lies.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa simply restored Bolobedu from a traditional community to a Kingdom. This follows the deposition of 1972, when Queen Modjadji was demoted to a chief by the apartheid government. The Tolo commission had nothing to do with identifying heirs, that is the sole right of the Royal Family as stipulated in the Act, a family which Mathole is not part of.”
Mathole claims he is a member of the Royal Family and was advisor to both Queen Mokope Modjadji V and Queen Makobo Modjajdi VI. The Royal Family has profusely refuted these claims, emphasising he is no close relative to the Royal Family. The family produced a letter to Mopani Times, signed by Queen Makobo Modjadji VI shortly before her passing, dismissing him from any position he claims in the Royal Household. According to Moroatshehla,
“Mathole was a mere equerry to Queen Mokope Modjadji V, a role limited to occasional government liaison. After the Modjadji V was laid to rest, Her successor Queen Makobo Modjadji noted Motshekga’s behaviour as unbecoming and relieved him of all his duties.”
Asked how Mathole gained custody of the Princess, Moroatshehla elaborated that after a long court battle with a certain David Mohale, a man who against Lobedu customs publicly claimed Princess Masalanabo’s paternity; Mathole mysteriously reappeared at the Royal Residence with the young Princess. He claims painstakingly collaborating with the police to track her whereabouts and offered free legal services to organise custody for the Royal Family. The Modjaji Family were surprised to hear in court that Mathole filed for Princess Masalanabo’s custody. He convinced the Royal Family she would visit every school term break, adding that to conditions of his custody. Motshekga argued she was in a bad state and the city would have the best facilities to rehabilitate her. The Royal Family was later shocked to hear that David had dragged Mathole to court for kidnapping his daughter.
Mohale died shortly after, and the Modjadji family has since been embroiled in a bitter custody battle with Motshekga, who to this day denies them access to the Princess.
Last year, the Council addressed a letter to the Balobedu nation through Headmen and Headwomen of their decision to identify Lekukela Modjadji as prescribed by the Traditional and Khoisan Act of 2019, which outlines that the Royal Family concerned must identify a person who qualifies to take over the throne. Moroatshehla reiterated:
“Though Princess Masalanabo has missed multiple cultural rites of passage disqualifying her from the throne, she is still our daughter, and we are hopeful she will return on her own accord, her role as Khadikholo (Great Aunt) awaits her.”
The Spokesperson further added that in Khelobedu, Great Uncles and Great Aunts have always ruled alongside Kings and Queens, respectively. Queen Khesethwane Modjadji III ruled alongside her brother, the Great Uncle Masopha Molokwane. Queen Makoma Modjadji IV was an only child and ruled alongside her eldest son Prince Lekukela Modjadji — the younger brother to Queen Mokope Modjadji V, who became the Great Uncle once he was of age. Mpapatla Modjadji ruled alongside his sister Queen Makobo Modjadji VII as the Great Uncle until he took over as Regent and given the title Bakhoma, when his sister was laid to rest in 2005. The Royal family is highly anticipating Princess Masalanabo’s return, upon which she will undergo customary initiation processes led by the Royal Family, who will determine a time they deem fit for her to rule alongside her brother as Khadikholo (Great Aunt).
Mathole has since challenged this decision and taken the Royal Family to court, the matter will be heard on the 10th of October at the Pretoria High Court in Gauteng.