Minister of Justice Defence and Security, Ramadeluka Seretse, has resigned from cabinet with immediate effect.
“I can confirm that I have resigned with immediate effect,” said Seretse in a brief interview.
While the minister would not be drawn into whether or not his resignation had anything to do with his expected appearance in court, The Telegraph can conform that the minister is likely to answer a single count related to conflict of interest.
Minister Seretse’s resignation comes in the wake of lengthy investigations carried out against him and his company, RFT Botswana PTY (Ltd), by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC).
The investigations came after a newspaper, The Voice, first broke the story late last year, saying that Seretse’s company had been winning contracts in some of the departments that falling under the direct political leadership of Minister Seretse.
The Botswana Congress Party then reported Seretse to DCEC, citing possible corruption.
In particular, the minister’s company is said to have won contracts to supply security equipment to the Botswana Police Services, which falls under his direct supervision.
Minister Seretse has since issued a public statement saying he had resigned from the company, which is now under the directorship of his wife, Sandra, and younger brother, Bathusi.
In the past, Minister Seretse had also gone on record indicating that he had declared his interest to President Ian Khama.
A case of conflict of interest is expected to be registered before Gaborone Regional Magistrate, Barnabas Nyamadzabo in the Village Magistrate courts on Wednesday.
A statement from the Office of the President states that President Ian Khama has accepted Seretse’s resignation.
Seretse is a close relative of President Ian Khama.
“This is to confirm that the Minister of Defence Justice and Security, the Hon. Ramadeluka Seretse has this afternoon resigned from his Cabinet portfolio with immediate effect. A statement from the Permanent Secretary to the President states that H.E. the President, Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, has accepted the Hon. Seretse’s resignation. Members of the public are further informed that the Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration has been appointed to act as the Minister for Defence, Justice and Security from tomorrow until further notice,” reads a statement from the Office of The President.
