SA advocate in Botswana law society dispute

Chief Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe has rebuked the Law Society of Botswana (LSB) over its handling of a high-profile legal dispute arising from the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) crisis. According to The Botswana Gazette, the dispute followed Ketlogetswe’s order of 30 July admitting South African Senior Counsel Reginald Willis to practise in Botswana on an ad hoc basis. Willis was engaged to represent JS Beef (Pty) Ltd and Primefast (Pty) Ltd in urgent litigation against the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Kobedi Segale, Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Edwin Dikoloti and the Attorney-General over the handling of FMD restrictions. The LSB later brought an urgent application seeking rescission of the admission order, arguing that it had not been given a meaningful opportunity to oppose Willis’ admission. Ketlogetswe dismissed the application with costs. Ketlogetswe said the underlying FMD dispute could not be treated as a minor matter because of its implications for cattle movement, beef sales, export markets and the wider economy. The ruling came as the main FMD litigation continued before the High Court, with the two feedlot companies challenging government restrictions that they say have disrupted their operations. The LSB argued that Willis had been admitted without proper notice and that the society should have been allowed to oppose the petition. Ketlogetswe rejected that contention, finding that the LSB had been notified in terms of section 7(1) of the Legal Practitioners Act.

Full report in The Botswana Gazette