‘No legal basis to deny Queen Masalanabo her recognition as monarch’

President Cyril Ramaphosa's legal team argued before the High Court in Pretoria that he had no legal basis to deny Queen Masalanabo Modjadji VII recognition as Balobedu Monarch. The Queen's legal representatives challenged this assertion, labeling it a self-serving attempt to divide the family and steal the Queen's birthright. The Queen's brother and uncle are contesting her ascension to the throne, claiming the President's decision to recognize her as monarch was unlawful.

During the court proceedings, the President's legal team pointed to the Modjadji Royal family's repeated identification of Masalanabo as the rightful heir from 2005 to 2025, stating that no vacancy or need for another person arose during that time. They emphasized that the President was required to ignore later demands to appoint her brother as the valid identification was already in place.

Advocate Zinzile Matebese SC, representing the President, accused the Queen's family of a self-serving plot to secure the throne for themselves by pitting innocent orphans against each other. The Queen's legal team countered by arguing that her upbringing outside of Bolobedu does not disqualify her from the throne and that the lawsuit is an attempt to seize her rightful birthright.

They highlighted that the court considered all circumstances and decided that the Queen should remain with the Motshekgas, as her removal from the throne would be an unjust removal of her birthright. The final oral arguments are scheduled to resume on Friday.