Light drizzle covered Duiwelskloof in the Limpopo province for much of Friday morning as Makobi Modjadji was inaugurated as the new Rain Queen of the Balobedu people.
Representative for the family, former Gauteng premier Mathole Motshekga, said there was drizzle throughout the ceremony on Friday morning.
”The Balobedu people expected it to rain, they were never in any doubt that it would rain,” he said.
Makobo Modjadji succeeds her grandmother Modjadji V, who died two years ago.
At 25, she will become youngest queen in the history of the tribe and the first to be educated. She was chosen as the successor after her mother, Princess Maria Modjadji, died two days before Modjadji V.
Motshekga said the neighbouring Venda people gave Modjadji VI a sacred drum as a gift while King Mphephu of Venda crowned her. According to custom, the Rain Queen never marries. She is allowed ”wives”, normally from the household of the subject chiefs, who are chosen by the Royal Council. The ”wives” serve to foster
good relations between the Rain Queen and the chiefs.
Although she is not allowed to wed, she is not expected to confine her sexual desires. When she wants to have a child, the council will choose a man of the right royal credentials. Motshekga went on to explain: ”The Balobedu Queen is a symbol of the sun and the moon, she is mara — both mother and father. The queen is mother and father to her children.”
Modjadji VI was expected to spend the weekend in meetings with her councillors deciding on ways to take the Balobedu people forward.
SABC radio reported that Limpopo Premier Ngoako Ramathlodi, who was present at the ceremony, would suggest to government that Duiwelskloof be renamed Modjadji Town.
The Duiwelskloof municipality and Limpopo local government MEC Joe Maswanyanyi are currently embroiled in a dispute over the renaming issue. The MEC wants the town to be renamed after the late African National Congress student leader Ngwako Ramalepe. – Sapa