The Jwaneng Town Council was all blushing faces this week after it emerged that the council’s legal advisor has forged his LLB certificates.
It is alleged that sometime around the 19th of last month, Emmanuel Pelekekae, the Jwaneng legal advisor hired in 2005, was arrested by the police following revelations that he had been employed by the Local Government on the back of fraudulent certificates.
Pelekekae, however, is said to have told police that he obtained his LLB at the University of Botswana.
Speaking to Sunday Standard, the Jwaneng Town clerk, Merapelo Tshweneyagae, said Pelekekae, who is the Jwaneng Town Council’s legal advisor, was recently arrested by the police on allegation that his LLB certificates were forged, adding that Pelekekae was hired by the council on D4 position three years ago.
However, Tshweneyagae conceded that Pelekekae was doing his duties diligently and advised the council accordingly.
“The council will be embarrassed if the allegations are true,” said Tshweneyagae.
He stressed that “at council level we cannot discipline him because of his position, therefore, the council has written to the department of Local Government Service Management to take and prepare action since they are the ones who can take any action”, adding that Pelekekae will be interdicted.
Jwaneng mayor, Christopher Ramolemane, said he would only comment on the matter after he had been officially notified.
The Station Commander of Jwaneng police station, Superintendent Kebafitlhetse Mothubane, said after the investigations are complete, and it is established that he did, indeed, use forged certificates, they would take him to the magistrate’s court.
“I can not say much about the case because police investigations are still at an initial stage,” said Mothubane.
However, the Directorate of Public Prosecution is also hit by fraudulent lawyers and has already dismissed one of the prosecutors who claimed to hold an LLB.
