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SowetanLive reports that staff members at the troubled Vhavenda Royal House in Nzhelele, Makhado in Limpopo have had to rely on loans and friends since April as they have not been paid.
The lack of salaries is linked to the recently concluded succession battle that saw former king Toni Mphephu Ramabulana being legally replaced by his niece Princess Masindi, who has yet to officially ascend to the throne. The royal family has since nominated Mavhungu David Mphephu Ramabulana as their regent. The cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs department in Limpopo, which is responsible for salaries of staff, said it won’t release the funds until a recognised king or queen is officially appointed. About 16 staff members are affected. Letters have been addressed by the royal house to the department pleading for salaries to be paid. One of the letters dated 25 July 2022, makes reference to MEC Basikopo Makamu’s visit to the royal family on 11 February 2022, when he apparently assured them that the kingship disputes would not interfere with the normal running of the office. Spokesperson for the royal family Ntsieni Ramabulana advised that they had started discussions with lawyers with the view of taking the department to court over the matter. But departmental spokesperson Hitekani Magwedze said taking the department to court would be a futile exercise as legally the department was not obliged to pay salaries until a recognised king or queen had been appointed. He said the official monarch would then have to appoint staff and submit their contracts to the department so that salaries could be paid.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zoe Mahopo at SowetanLive
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