The Limpopo High Court in Polokwane has set aside the appointment of Bapedi nation Queen Mother Manyaku Thulare as the reigning regent on Wednesday.Queen Manyaku, who is the mother of the late King Victor Thulare III was appointed as regent in March 2021, two months after her son died from Covid-19 complications.Judge President Ephraim Makgoba found that the decision to appoint her as Bapedi regent was unlawful and dismissed Manyaku 's case with costs.

ROYAL FAMILY MEETING

In the first application, Queen Manyaku stepson Morwamohube Ernest Thulare sought a declaratory order to have the royal family meeting on 28 February 2021 where he was appointed acting King be declared properly constituted royal family meeting. In a counter application, Queen Manyaku sought an order to set the meeting aside on account that it did not constitute a royal family meeting.The Queen Mother also wanted the court to declare the meeting with her two sons, her daughter, the late King Thulare's two wives where she was made regent of the Bapedi nation on 21 February 2021 be declared lawful.In his judgment, Judge Makgoba said the meeting held by the Thulare royal family on 28 February 2021 was a proper constituted royal family meeting."The contention by Manyaku that the royal family consists of herself, her two sons, one uncle and two common wives of the late King Thulare III is rejected. I come to a conclusion that the 46 people who attended a meeting on 28 February 2021 are members of the royal family who are required to make decisions, including to identification of an acting King and seed raiser,"

NO SUCCESSOR TO THE THRONE

?Though King Thulare III had four sons and a daughter with his two common wives, they are not eligible to ascend the throne as their mothers were not candle wives."Therefore the late King Thulare III didn't leave any known hereditary successor to the Kingship of Bapedi nation as none of them were born of a candle wife," the judgment read.A 'candle wife' is a woman chosen by the Bapedi nation and married off to the royal family for the sole purpose of producing a male child.

?KING'S HALF BROTHER

?Morwamohube who is the late King's half brother will take over as acting King and seed raiser in the house of the late King Victor Thulare III when the nation marries a candle wife.King Thulare III died in January 2021 from Covid-19 complications, only seven months after being recognised as the Bapedi King by President Cyril Ramaphosa. This opened another succession battle.In 2018 the Gauteng High Court, dismissed former acting Bapedi King Kgagudi Kenneth Sekhukhune's application for leave to appeal, a judgment that stripped him of power after he had been acting for years following the death of Rhyne Sekhukhune, Thulare's father.

?ROYALS WELCOME COURT DECISION

?Chief Mathlabeng Maila who spoke on behalf of the royal family said they were happy with the judgment."We knew when we went to court that the judge would take this decision as this is our custom and tradition. There is no way things would change to suit anyone. We are going to convene a meeting to pave the way forward because the judgment is on our side," Chief Maila said.