African National Congress heavyweight Mathole Motshekga has been ordered by the Pretoria High Court to pay the legal costs for the Modjadji Royal family, in their battle over the successorship of the Balobedu “Rain Queen” throne.
Motshekga, who is the foster parent of Princess Masalanabo Modjadji, took the royal council to court after they announced in May last year that Prince Lekukela would take over the throne instead of the princess. Motshekga on Monday filed an application to have the matter postponed to 2023, after his previous legal council withdrew from the case. The lawyer left the case due to Motshekga’s failure to pay and the ANC MP appointed another lawyer to lead the case.The politician’s lawyers argued that they needed more time to prepare because they got access to the case line or court records late and they could not prepare on time.
The judge further raised concerns over the delays of the trial, saying the matter should be concluded speedily.The judge also ordered that Motshekga could no longer file a case in the interest of Princess Masalanabo and instructed her to obtain her own independent legal representatives from the Pretoria Centre for Child Law.