Money Laundering Prosecution of Motsepe-Radebe in Botswana

In 2020, allegations of money laundering and fraud were brought against Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe, a South African businesswoman,. Motsepe-Radebe is the wife of former justice minister, Jeff Radebe and a sister-in-law to the South African President, Cyril Ramphosa.[1] The allegations against Motsepe-Radebe stem from the 2019 “Butterfly” spy case in which former intelligence officer, Welheminah Maswabi, was accused of funneling  money from the Botswana government to finance terrorism.[2] Motsepe-Radebe and Maswabi have been linked to the alleged $10.1 billion stolen from Botswana through South African bank accounts.[3] According to the prosecution, Motsepe-Radebe has been “identified as a co-signatory of at least two bank accounts holding some of the more than $10 billion allegedly stolen from the Botswana government to finance a ‘coup’ before the national election in this country.”[4] Motsepe-Radebe has also been accused of aiding Botswana’s former president, Ian Khama, in attempting to dislodge the standing president, Mokgweetsi Masisi.[5] Motsepe-Radebe has repeatedly denied all allegations.[6]