Pretoria - Once upon a time, the land of Balobedu in Modjadjiskloof just outside of Tzaneen was as peaceful as its beauty, with glades and valleys surrounding villages on the hills.
In the dead of the night, you could almost hear the voices of ancestors reprimanding what has now become a panorama infested with anger and confusion.
The place has become the centre of a feud for the Modjadji throne, threatening the end of centuries of beliefs that the area has spiritual powers which can bring rain to any drought in the land of the Balobedu.
The royal throne has pitted siblings against each other to lead the peace-loving people of Ga-Modjadji.
Some 200 years ago, the nation decided to install a woman to lead the throne of the royal nation, mostly fitting their beliefs that it was only women who could bring rain. According to history, it was the great grandmother of Princess Masalanabo Modjadji and her elder brother Prince Lekukela Modjadji, Queen Mokope Modjadji, who was known for her rain-making powers and wrath to those who believed otherwise.
Queen Mokope, who gave birth to the next heir to the throne, Princess Maria Modjadji, died on June 28, 2001.
Princess Maria died the next day without having sat on the royal chair. Elders say it was out of worry. Although Princess Maria’s demise left a gap in the royal seat, there was a silver lining, with her daughter, Princess Makobo Modjadji, who later became queen and have given birth to the two siblings now pitted against each other to posses the rain-making powers.
Queen Makobo died in 2005, triggering a division among the Balobedu people, with some believing it should be Princess Masalanabo who should ascend the throne when she turns 18 in January next year; others are lobbying for her elder brother, Prince Lekukela, which will end the two centuries queendom.
Prince Mpapatla Modjadji has been regent ever since Queen Makobo’s death.
Not far from Khethlakoni, up the mountains is Maolwe where the royal family and Prince Mpapatla live, is a sacred place solemnly meant for traditional rituals performed by elders who believe only they have the authority to chose who should ascend the throne.
An elder person said a king or a queen should never be installed by ordinary people. “It will never be official. The kingdom will never survive,” said the resident who didn’t want to be named.
Last week, Prince Mpapatla oversaw the installation of Prince Lekukela in a traditional ceremony held in Kethlakoni. , meant to pave the way for him to be king. The decision to install Prince Lukukela will end a 200-year old tradition of the nation ruled by a woman.
In 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa recognised Princess Masalanabo Modjadji as the legitimate heir to the throne. However, last year the royal council decided Prince Lukukela become king. They claimed to have failed in getting access to Princess Masalanabo, adopted and raised by ANC heavyweight Dr Mathole Motshekga. He has since taken the matter to court seeking to have the council to recognise Princess Masalanabo as queen.
She will be turning 18 in January next year, making her eligible to become queen. She was tipped to take over as Queen Modjadji VII, but the royal council does not see it that way.
In 2019, the Modjadji royal family accused Motshekga, the queendom’s legal adviser at the time, of turning Princess Masalanabo against them to “hijack” the throne. The court case isdue to take place today at the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. But it is unlikely to continue because Motshekga’s lawyer and ANC stalwart Mathews Phosa withdrew from the case.
The spat has left the people of Balobedu confused. Loria Mahowa, an elderly woman from Khethlakoni, said: “We are ruled by a woman. Why are they changing things now? We don’t know how to be ruled by a man. How will he bring rain to us?”
Pretoria News