Snl24 | Queen Modjadji series will air as planned!

The Balobedu royal family in the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday, 9 July. Photo by Thokozile Mnguni

THE much anticipated historically inspired drama series, Queen Modjadji will air on Sunday, 14 July on Mzansi Magic as planned.

This after the Pretoria High Court struck the application by the Balobedu Royal Council and family off the roll on Tuesday, 9 July.

The Balobedu Royal Council had put in an urgent application to prevent MultiChoice from airing the series, citing that no proper consultation was conducted with them.

Representing MultiChoice, Advocate Terry Motaung argued that the series was announced in February along with the trailer, indicating that it was inspired by the first Queen Modjadji who lived some 200 years ago.

Motaung further told the court this announcement gave rise to a state of activity, including social media. He said the series is not capable of causing harm to the applicants or a right they have because it does not concern them as it is a work of fiction.

“The applicants have not and cannot meet the high threshold required in order to obtain a prior restraint of speech. There is no general principle in law that requires a broadcaster to obtain permission in advance of publication or to provide a copy of a publication to a third in advance of its broadcast,” he told the court.

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Representing the Balobedu royal family, Advocate Louis Kok told the court someone who has no authority, an uncle to Queen Masalanabo, was consulted instead of the Balobedu Royal Council.

He said Mapapatla Modjadji was a regent for Queen Masalanabo before she could be of age.

Professor Mathole Motshekga, who is one of the royal family members, said: “We came here on an urgent basis to stop the airing of the series. From March we were communicating with the lawyers of Duma Ka Ndlovu and MultiChoice hoping we will get a solution.

“They said they will come back to us but surprisingly they announced that they are going ahead with the process. So, we were forced to come to court. The court says we came late, it didn’t say we are wrong. We were hoping this matter would be given a chance for consultations, but everything is now water under the bridge. We respect the judgment and we will continue to support Queen Modjadji.”

Professor Mathole Motshekga, a member of the Balobedu royal family, was also in court to offer his support. Photo by Thokozile Mnguni

Gabriel Rasebotsa, secretary of the Balobedu Royal Council said whatever happened, they respect the law. He said they are disappointed in MultiChoice and the people who approved the series.

He further made a call to President Cyril Ramaphosa to officially handover a certificate to Queen Masalanabo so that she can officially be recognised.

Acting judge Jacques Minnaar struck the application off the roll due to a lack of urgency.

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