Women across South African kingdoms still face legal and cultural battles to claim leadership roles due to deeply rooted patriarchal customs, writes Celani Sikhakhane in Royal Mzansi column.

Patriarchy in customary law still stops women from becoming traditional leaders in many South African kingdoms.

Often, women aren’t denied leadership because they’re not rightful heirs, but simply because elders say having a woman lead “is against the culture or the customary law.”

Some women who serve as regents are also challenged, because tradition doesn’t support female leadership in traditional structures. Even women’s rights groups are reluctant to fight against customary laws that prevent women from taking the throne.

This issue was recently seen in Limpopo, where two women are in legal battles with family members who believe traditional leadership is strictly for men.

In the Vhavenda Kingdom, the case of Princess Masindi brings this issue to light. Her challenge against her uncle led to a Constitutional Court decision that ruled Prince Toni Mphephu Ramabulana is no longer king.

This dispute shows how difficult it is to apply traditional Vhavenda customs under modern South African law.

In the Bapedi Kingdom, Queen Regent Maria Manyaku Thulare faces opposition from Prince Morwamohube Thulare, her brother-in-law’s son.

He and other royals argue that “it would be foreign for the Bapedi Kingdom to have a female ruler.”

The case is currently in the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Queen Regent Manyaku was appointed in 2021 after her son, King Victor Thulare, died.

The Bolobedu Kingdom’s Rain Queen Masalanabo also faces opposition. Her family members in the royal council support her brother Prince Lekukela instead.

They say she hasn’t been prepared in the “divine processes traditionally assumed by Rain Queens” and point out that she lives in Gauteng with the family of Mathole Motshekga.

These situations aren’t unique. Similar patterns occur in provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Free State, and North West, where women often lose their chance to lead due to patriarchal customary law.

Pictured above: Queen Regent Manyaku Thulare is being challenged by the son of her brother-in-law who wants to take over the Bapedi throne.

Image source: Instagram