The Modjadji Royal Council confirmed on Monday the death of Rain Queen Makobo Modjadji of the Balobedu people in Limpopo.
Modjadji was admitted to the Medi-Clinic in Polokwane on Friday, and died on Sunday, said council spokesperson Clement Modjadji.
He could not reveal the cause of death, saying: ”We are not yet in the know”.
Asked with what symptoms she was admitted to hospital, he said: ”We are not doctors. Her health was not satisfactory to us. She was vomiting. So we decided to get medical help.”
A Medi-Clinic spokeswoman said she was not allowed to give out any information.
The funeral has provisionally been planned for Friday, but final arrangements had yet to be made, Modjadji said.
Makobo Modjadji, the sixth in a line of Balobedu rain queens, was crowned in 2003 at the age of 25 after the death of her predecessor and grandmother, Mokope Modjadji.
Apart from ruling over the Balobedu tribe, the queen is also considered to be a rain maker.
Modjadji said the issue of a successor for the queen would only arise ”long after the funeral”.
Currently, the focus was on performing rituals leading up to the burial.
The African National Congress said it was deeply saddened to learn of Modjadji’s death.
The ANC extended condolences to her family, the royal council, the Balobedu people, and the government and people of Limpopo.
”Her death is a loss for all the people of South Africa. As she is mourned across the country, she will be remembered for her contribution to the well-being and improvement of the lives of her people,” the party said. -Sapa