The court case challenging the Modjadji Royal Council’s decision to appoint Prince Lekukela Modjadji as the next Balobedu monarch is expected to start in the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The Modjadji Royal Council says it took the decision to place Prince Lekukela as the next monarch because they did not have access to Princess Masalanabo Modjadji.
The council says it never had access and the opportunity to train Princess Masalanabo in her duties as monarch.
However, the Princesses foster parents African National Congress (ANC) member of parliament Mathole Motshekga and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga approached the courts to challenge the Modjadji Royal Council’s decision.
Prince Mpapatla Modjadji was placed as the Balobedu regent following the death of Rain Queen Makobo Constance Modjadji in 2005.
Queen Makobo was crowned in 2003 as the sixth in a line of the Balobedu people’s Rain Queens at the age of 25, making her the youngest queen in the history of the Balobedu.
In 2005, Makobo succumbed to illness and died leaving her son, Prince Lekukela, and a daughter, Princess Masalanabo.
The Modjadji Royal Council refutes claims of deviating from tradition:
