05 May 2019

Lobatse High Court judge, Justice  Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe has ordered that Ms Masego Mogwera should remain as president of Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) pending the hearing of the appeal against her suspension on May 16.

Ms Mogwera was suspended by a section of the union’s executive committee last week pending investigations on allegations of misconduct.

However, together with three others being Martin Gaborakwe, Tlhabologo Galekhutle and Otto Itumeleng, she filed an urgent court application on Friday against the current acting president of BOPEU Mr Olefile Monakwe to oppose her suspension.

Through their attorney Mr Dutch Leburu, the applicants wanted the court to set aside the suspension of Ms Mogwera so that she could remain as president of the union and member of the board until she is lawfully removed.

However, Attorney Gabriel Kanjabanga standing for the respondent, pleaded with the court to postpone the case to a later date in order to familiarise himself with details of the case.

Mr Kanjabanga said the responding party was served with court papers a few hours before the matter was heard, which was not sufficient time to prepare for the case.

Reacting to the plea for postponement, Mr Leburu pleaded with the court to issue a ‘rule nisi’ in order for the applicants to continue with their duties in the union in the meantime.

Lobatse High Court judge, Justice Ketlogetswe granted the ‘rule nisi’ and ordered that the case should be treated as an urgent matter. 

The new date of the case is May 16. ENDS