Balobedu Traditional Leaders March to Union Buildings Against Queen Masalanabo’s Recognition

THABO MONYELA|March 13, 2025

*UNDER SIEGE: Balobedu traditional leaders have marched in protest against the government’s recognition of Queen Masalanabo as the next heir to the Modjadji dynasty. Photo: Denvor de Wee/Visual Buzz*

The Balobedu Traditional leaders, backing Prince Lekukela Hex Modjadji, have marched against the recognition of Queen Masalanabo by the government, as the next heir to the Modjadji dynasty.

They took their displeasure to the Union Buildings in the capital Pretoria on Thursday, March 13 as Prince Lekukela filed court papers to challenge the South African government’s decision.

Last year December, President Cyril Ramaphosa officially recognised Queen Masanalabo as a legitimate successor to her mother Makobo Modjadi VI, who died in 2005.

Ramaphosa’s fulfillment of the government’s promise to recognise Masalanabo as the new Queen, once she turned 18, now faces contestation from the regency that was holding the fort.

The president made the commitment during the Balobedu Queenship celebration event at Mokwakwaila Stadium outside Modjadjiskloof in 2018.

Prince Mpapatla, who was a regent for Queen Masalanabo, and the Modjadji Royal Council, based in Khetlhakoni Village outside Tzaneen, claims that Queen Masalanabo was disinherited from the throne in 2011, after she missed important royal family’s sacred rituals and rain-making secrets.

It is against this background that various traditional leaders under Bolobedu queendom, supporting Prince Lekukela, embarked in a protest march to reinforce their attempts to challenge the recognition of Queen Masalanabo as their next heir to the throne.

ILL-INFORMED: The Forum of Traditional Leaders, led by Pastor Lesetja Mokati, has criticised President Ramaphosa’s decision to recognise Queen Masalanabo, calling it ill-informed and contrary to the council’s recommendations. Photo: Thabo Monyela/African Times

The forum of traditional leaders, led by pastor Lesetja Mokati, labelled Ramaphosa’s decision to recognise Queen Masalanabo as ill-informed. He said it defied the council’s recommendations.

“We are here to reinforce our call to the President to reverse his declaration to recognise Masalanabo, in respect of the royal council’s resolution which appointed Prince Lekukela as our next king. Masalanabo did not grow up at the royal house and she’s a foreign to our customs as Balobedu,” Pastor Mokati said.

Critics of the march alleged that the former regent, Prince Mpapatla together with Prince Lekukela coerced businesspersons and certain headmen to provide financial and logistical support for the march to the Union Buildings, a claim both parties refuted.

Speaking for the Prince Lekukela royal council, Ronnie Moroasehla, said: “Prince Lukekela and his uncle Mpapatla were not involved in the march and the march was organised by the forum of indunas and the allegations are not true”.

The office of her highness Queen Masalanabo denounced what it called “false authority” displayed by Prince Lekukela and Prince Mpapatla. It assured the Balobedu people that all local traditional leaders who were installed legally will not lose their statuses.

“The Balobedu Royal Council is initiating urgent steps to restore order and uphold the legitimacy of the throne. The council will take immediate measures to halt all illegal operations, facilitate the lawful transition of governance structures, and prevent the unauthorised use of state resources for activities that have not been sanctioned by the rightful authorities,” Queen Masalanabo’s chief royal council advisor, Mathole Motshekga said.

NOT FIT TO RULE: Balobedu traditional leaders backing Prince Lekukela Hex Modjadji have accused Queen Masalanabo of being unfamiliar with their customs. Prince Mpapatla, who served as regent, claims she was disinherited from the throne in 2011 after missing key royal sacred rituals and rain-making traditions. Photo: Thabo Monyela/African Times

However, the statement was questioned by another section of Queen Masalanabo’s supporters opposed to Dr Motshekga’s involvement in the Modjadji royal household’s affairs. They said the protesters had the right to march because Dr Motshekga was interfering and imposing his will at the expense of Queen Masalanabo.

The legal wrangle for the throne has heightened between Prince Lekukela and Queen Masalanabo.

African Times has seen the Pretoria High Court papers filed by Modjadji Royal Family and Prince Lekukela to challenge Ramaphosa’s decision to recognise Queen Masalanabo.

According to the High Court papers filed on Friday, 7 March 2025, where the President is the first respondent and Queen Masalanabo is the third respondent, the litigants seek to set aside Ramaphosa’s decision taken on 2 December 2024, to recognise Queen Masalanabo as the Queen of Balobedu.

In court papers, the royal family sought “the review and setting aside of the decision by the first respondent not to act upon and not to accept the identification of Prince Lekukela Modjadji (the 2nd applicant) by the Modjadji Royal Family, as King of the Bolobedu, as conveyed to the President on 23 August 2021”.

“And further supplemented on 30 September in the same year, alternatively the decision by the President to refuse the application by the Modjadji Royal Family, in terms of to recognise the second applicant as King of Balobedu”.