06 Mar 2018

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi has told Parliament that a total of 94 cases were heard by the courts involving government and trade unions in the past three years.

Answering a question from the MP for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi on March 5, Minister Kgathi explained that legal costs awarded against government and fees paid in matters were outsourced to various law firms.

He said P262 500 was paid to Akoonyatse Law Firm and R288 300 was paid to Advocate Tim Bruinders in matter involving government and Botswana Land Board & Local Authorities & Health Workers Union (BLLAHWU).

Furthermore, he explained that government made a payment of R143 707.28 to Advocate M.A Albertrusi and R86 489.69 was paid to Advocate Grant Quixley.

Government further paid R124 380.40 to Advocate Wim Trengove and a further R64 080.00 to Advocate Isabella Kentridge.

All these matters involved government and National Amalgamated Local, Central Government and Parastatal Workers Union (NALCGPWU) against Attorney Generals Chambers.

Minister Kgathi explained further that government made a payment of R227 144.58 to Advocate Isabella Kentridge in a matter involving Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) and NALCGPWU against Attorney General Chamber.

He told the House that government engaged one local private law firm and five Advocates, adding that government made payment of P262 500 to Akoonyatse Law firm in a matter involving BLLAHWU and eight others while government also paid P288 300 to Advocate Tim Bruinders on the same matter.

Government made a payment of R143 707.28 to Advocate M.A Albertrusi and another payment to Advocate Grant Quixley in the sum of R124 380.40 in a matter involving NALCGPWU against the Attorney Generals Chamber.

Still in a matter involving NALCGPWU against the Attorney General’s Chamber, government paid R124 380.40 to advocate Wim Trengove and R64 080 to Advocate Isabella Kentridge respectively.

Minister Kgathi said government paid R227 144.58 to Advocate Isabella Kentridge in matter involving BOPEU and NALCGPWU against the Attorney General Chambers.

He concluded that the costs had been taxed while the rest were yet to be taxed and had not been quantified.

MP Mmolotsi had asked the minister to state the number of cases heard at the Courts involving government and Trade Unions in the past three years and how much government spent per case.

He also wanted to know whether government engaged any private law firm in any of the cases, and if so, which ones and how much was paid to each law firm. ENDS