South African businesswoman Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe is pressing Botswana’s government to settle a 68 million pula ($630,000) legal costs bill after being cleared in the infamous “Butterfly Case”.
The case, which involved allegations of a $10 billion money laundering plot, was deemed “unlawful, false, and reckless” by Botswana’s High Court.
Motsepe-Radebe, sister of mining billionaire Patrice Motsepe, had dropped her claim for personal damages, but the court ruled that the state must cover her reasonable legal costs.
However, Botswana’s government has failed to comply, citing logistical and advertising constraints.
The dispute has dragged on, with Motsepe-Radebe’s lawyers, Webber Wentzel, stating that the government has not provided a substantive explanation for the delay. The Botswana government has confirmed talks are ongoing to settle the costs.
