02 Dec 2015

President Lt General Seretse Khama Ian Khama in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has appointed a substantive judge and two acting judges to replace the four recently suspended judges of the High Court.

Public relations officer with the High Court, Mr Clement Sibanda confirmed that the President has appointed Mr Bashi Moesi as the substantive High Court Judge effective January 01, 2016. In addition President Khama appointed Mr Boipuso Tshweneyagae and Ms Jennifer Dube as Acting Judges of the High Court.  

The appointments follow the suspension of Justices Key Dingake, Modiri Letsididi, Mercy Gaarekwe and Rainer Busang in August this year. In September, the President appointed Mr Godfrey Radijeng as High Court judge on acting capacity.

Meanwhile, the quartet later challenged their suspension at the High Court arguing that it was unconstitutional but lost their case as the court ruled that the President acted within his powers. 

President Khama later on appointed a tribunal to determine the fate of the four suspended judges, who are accused of undermining Chief Justice Maruping Dibotelo and bringing the judiciary into disrepute.

A retired South African Supreme Court Judge, Craig Howie chairs the tribunal, while its other members are Justices John Foxcroft and Isaac Lesetedi. Ends