AfriForum’s Gerrie Nel to represent Botswana in money-laundering case
AfriForum’s private prosecution unit has been appointed by the Botswana government in its money laundering and fraud battle against businesswoman Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe.
The lobby group believes some $48 million was laundered from the Bank of Botswana via international accounts and distributed to banks in South Africa.
The Botswana government has accused Motsepe-Radebe of stealing the money in order to finance a coup.
She has strenuously denied the allegations.
Advocate Gerrie Nel, who heads up AfriForum’s private prosecution unit, said on Tuesday Botswana had submitted a request for mutual legal assistance to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in September.
“The fact that Dirco failed to give any feedback to the DPP (director of public prosecutions) of Botswana over nine months indicates that the South African government is unwilling to assist our client with their request,” said Nel.
“We will intervene and ensure that our client receives the necessary cooperation from the South African government to ensure that justice prevail.”
Nel says all they want is for South African authorities to respond to the request for mutual legal assistance.
"We will peruse the developments and do whatever we can to ensure that the office of the DPP receives this information.”