{
  "id": 5507950,
  "title": "Battle for Balobedu throne continues in Pretoria High Court",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/battle-for-balobedu-throne-continues-in-pretoria-high-court",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T05:33:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/battle-for-balobedu-throne-continues-in-pretoria-high-court/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The legal dispute over the Balobedu throne is set to continue at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria this Friday. The Modjadji Royal family has filed an application challenging President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to recognize Masalanabo Modjadji as the Queen of the Balobedu people. Certain members of the royal family are advocating for Prince Lekukela Modjadji, brother of Queen Masalanabo, to be crowned King instead.\n\nA submission made to the court on Thursday highlighted a dispute regarding Queen Masalanabo Modjadji's initiation ceremony. It was claimed that she failed to undergo initiation according to Balobedu customs. However, her legal representative, Advocate Lerato Phasha, submitted an affidavit to contest this assertion. Phasha clarified that she underwent initiation under the guidance of Mrs Johanna Mokhadi, Nemokoto, Hamashau, with the preparation, handing over, and guardianship for her initiation carried out by Miss Julia Mabale.",
  "summary": "One of the submissions made to the court, was that the Queen did not undergo initiation.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "After losing doctor son to suicide, Gujarat couple in 50s wins High Court battle for IVF",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/after-losing-doctor-son-to-suicide-gujarat-couple-in-50s-wins-high",
        "published": "2026-09-04T00:35:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "High Court extends freeze on implementation of controversial police investigations unit law",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/high-court-extends-freeze-on-implementation-of-controversial-police",
        "published": "2026-09-04T02:34:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}