Her Majesty Queen Masalanabo Modjadji VII.
The Office of Her Majesty Queen Masalanabo Modjadji VII has strongly rejected reports linking her recent trip to France with financial mismanagement.
The royal office responded after media reports suggested that taxpayers paid for an irregular private holiday, coming right as the Auditor-General flagged excessive travel spending inside the Department of Defence.
The controversy began when media outlets reported on the Auditor-General’s latest audit findings into government spending. Auditors raised red flags over the Department of Defence after discovering huge travel expenses and administrative failures. Reports quickly pointed to a trip taken by the Rain Queen to Paris in July 2026, suggesting that public money was used inappropriately to fly her to Europe while the military struggled with its budget.
However, the Balobedu Royal Nation issued a formal statement to set the record straight. The royal council explained that Queen Masalanabo did not go on a private vacation or shopping spree. Instead, she traveled to France for an official government event.
The Ministry of Defence formally invited the Rain Queen to attend the 110th Commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood, held from 9 to 15 July 2026. The historic event honors South African soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. Royal representatives noted that attending the ceremony was a national duty that allowed the Queen to represent her people on a global stage.
The royal office also clarified how the trip was paid for. The Department of Defence did not fund her travel. The royal council wrote to the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) in June requesting official support. COGHSTA funded the trip using its existing annual budget meant to support traditional leaders and royal institutions. The payment went through a standard, approved agreement between departmental financial officers.
Royal spokesperson Princess Mapula Modjadji-Sethaba said the visit served several important goals. Beyond honouring fallen soldiers, the trip helped promote cultural tourism, protect South African heritage, and build international connections that could bring investment to the Balobedu region.
The royal family stated that linking the Queen’s approved visit to the Auditor-General’s general complaints about defence travel was unfair and untrue. They pointed out that the media was given all official proof before publishing the reports.
While the Department of Defence faces ongoing pressure to fix its internal travel controls and stop wasteful spending, the Balobedu Royal Nation maintains that Her Majesty’s trip was entirely legal, official, and fully justified. The Queen’s office added that it may report media outlets to regulatory bodies if the misleading stories are not corrected.