Elmon Tshikhudo
Acting Vhavenda king Toni Mphephu has been dealt a severe blow by the Constitutional Court.
On Friday morning, Judge Sisi Khampepe, unanimously supported by seven fellow judges, dismissed Mphephu’s application to set aside a previous ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Mphephu was also stripped of the powers he was able to enjoy while the Vhavenda kingship dispute between himself and his niece, Masindi Mphephu, was in the hands of the court.
The ruling means that the Vhavenda nation now has no king until such time as the Mphephu royal family chooses the rightful heir.
Now that there is no king, many feel that the playing field in the kingship battle has been levelled.
The main contenders for the throne remain Masindi Mphephu, Toni Mphephu and dark horse Thomas Ramabulana Neluvhola, who has just emerged as a contender.
Thomas is a well known Limpopo businessman and the son of the late Freddy Nkhanedzeni Ramabulana who died before he could ascend the throne.
Many believe he is fit for the position as he is the one holding important royal ritual tools.
In an old video clip, Makhadzi Phophi Mphephu who has the last say in kingship matters said a woman will never be king of the Vhavenda nation.
Mphephu ascended to the throne after his older brother Chief Tshimangadzo Mphephu, Masindi’s father resigned in 1994 and later died in a car accident.
Ntsieni Ramabulana said they received the court ruling on behalf of Toni Mphephu and that they were still studying the documents and would respond in due course.
Lufuno Mphephu, who spoke on behalf of Masindi, said the princess has had faith in the judiciary since the start of the case.
“The court has vindicated Masindi. What we are now waiting for is that the family formalises the kingship issue without dragging each other to the courts again,” he said.
Image source: @EFFSouthAfrica
