Pretoria - Former parliamentary chief whip Dr Mathole Motshekga can now only look on and play a supporting role in the battle of the Balobedu crown.
This follows the coming of age of his adopted daughter Princess Masanalabo Modjadji, who is at the centre of the battle, pitted against her elder brother Prince Lekukela Modjadji.
Princess Masanalabo turned 18 last week, paving the way for her to fight her own court battles and qualifies to be the Balobedu queen.
The matter involves a court case about the two siblings seeking to ascend the throne to lead the Balobedu nation in Khetlhakoni, Modjadjiskloof, in Limpopo after the death of their mother, “rain queen” Queen Makobo Modjadji, in 2005.
The two have been at each other’s throats to lead the nation after Motshekga, who is the legal guardian of Princess Masalanabo, took the matter to court, seeking for her to be recognised as the rightful heir to the throne.
Motshekga adopted her in 2006.
However, the Modjadji Royal Council, led by its spokesperson Ronnie Moroatshehla, believes Prince Lekukela is the rightful heir.
If they have their way he will end 200 years of queenship after they held a traditional coronation for him to be installed as king last year.
During the raging court battle, Motshekga had been representing Princess Masalanabo because he was her legal guardian.
However, last week the princess turned 18, which prompted her legal representative, advocate Ngoako Maropene, to abandon leave to appeal application that sought Motshekga to continue with the case.
According to Maropene, this meant Princess Masalanabo was old enough to now give instruction to her attorney.
Maropene said they were excited at the new development because the matter would proceed on the merits of the case and there would be less technicalities citing that Prince Lekukela’s case was built on fighting Motshekga instead of the matter at hand.
“We did not pursue leave to appeal before court last week because the basis upon which leave to appeal was sought was among others due to Order No 3 and 4 which appointed UP Centre for Child Law to represent Her Majestic Queen-Elect Masalanabo Modjadji VII who was still a minor when leave to appeal was filed last year.
“The fact that Her Majesty Queen-elect Masalanabo Modjadji VII reached 18 years on January 20, which now gives her legal capacity to act on her own; ie to represent herself in court had automatically rendered orders to be inoperable or unenforceable or ineffective,” he said.
He added because of this there would be no need going forward for Princess Masalanabo to be (re)presented by anyone.
The review application filed by Moropene, which will determine the rightful heir, is expected to continue this year at the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria.
Maropene said the case still remained and would be heard on merits in due course.
“No more technicalities around locus standi and so forth. Her Majesty Queen-Elect Masalanabo Modjadji VII will soon be joined in to participate in these proceedings the same way Lekukela Modjadji was joined in to participate in this proceedings,” said Maropene.
Moroatshehla did not respond to questions sent by text.
Pretoria News