No judgement yet in BNYC case

Lobatse High Court Acting Judge, Jennifer Dube has deferred judgement again a case in which former board members of the dissolved Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) are challenging its dissolution.

Earlier this year, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng dissolved the board following reports of corruption and maladministration at the troubled organisation. Two months ago he appointed other board members for three years.

Justice Dube told both parties that she could not deliver the judgement because the substantive judge, Modiri Letsididi has not prepared it. She has instructed attorney representing BNYC and former board members to appear on February 10, 2016 for re-arguments before judgement is delivered on March 15, 2016.

Earlier Uyapo Ndadi, the lawyer representing former board members, said it was useful for the court to deliver judgement because of the fundamental question raised in the application. “We are in a situation where we do not know what the future holds for us because of suspension of judges,” said Ndadi.

The postponement was prompted by the unavailability of the substantive judge, Justice Modiri Letsididi. He is one of the four judges that were suspended by President Ian Khama in September this year for allegedly undermining Chief Justice Maruping Dibotelo.