Dispute over Kgosi’s Sentlhane farm, cattle clouds settlement
Mpho Mokwape | Monday November 24, 2025 09:04
While the agreement paves the way for the release of a significant portion of Kgosi’s restrained assets, key properties remain locked in contention.
Amongst these are the well-known Sentlhane Farm and a substantial herd of cattle allegedly donated to Kgosi by businessman Richard Miles.
These assets remain under legal restraint as questions of possible money laundering continue to shadow them.
On Wednesday, when the settlement agreement was formally signed, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) maintained its position that certain assets could not be returned despite the broader release of other properties previously held under restraint.
The DPP indicated that unresolved issues surrounding Sentlhane Farm and the cattle donation prevented their immediate handover to Kgosi’s estate.
“We are still in talks regarding the remaining assets, and we will need time to see if the matter can be closed,” said the PP attorney, Ofentse Khumomotse.
Sentlhane Farm has been deeply embedded in the allegations that have followed Kgosi since his tenure as head of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security(DIS).
Over the years, the farm has been repeatedly cited in reports and court filings suggesting that the funds used to acquire it may have originated from unlawful activity. Investigators have claimed that some of the money used in the purchase was never satisfactorily accounted for, and the DPP has continued to allege that parts of the acquisition were supported by cash flows that raised suspicion during financial probes.
The cattle at the centre of the dispute add a layer of complexity to the matter. According to earlier court documents, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) uncovered information suggesting that businessman Richard Miles had given Kgosi close to 150 prime-breed cattle.
The circumstances surrounding this donation were described as suspicious, prompting further scrutiny from investigators. The DPP is reportedly examining whether the cattle, as well as their natural increase over time, formed part of a scheme to disguise the transfer of illicit wealth.
These concerns have been amplified by previous legal disputes in which Kgosi’s lawyers argued that the State mishandled the restrained livestock.
The defence maintained that after the cattle were seized, some of them died due to inadequate care.
A 2020 letter from Kgosi’s attorneys alleged that following the State’s takeover of the farm, several damages occurred, and some of the cattle had died, attributing it to poor management.
The lawyers further asserted that caretakers previously responsible for the farm’s day-to-day operations had been removed, resulting in deteriorating conditions for both the property and the livestock.
Claims have also surfaced that the State failed to maintain Sentlhane Farm during its period of control, allegedly contributing to the overall decline of the estate. Reports have indicated that structural conditions worsened and that the burden of livestock losses fell heavily on the estate, deepening tensions between the parties.
The controversy surrounding the cattle donation has drawn significant public attention due to the earlier involvement of the DCEC. At one point, the agency reportedly arrested Richard Miles for questioning in connection with his association with Kgosi and the purported donation of the cattle. Investigators sought clarity on whether the transaction represented a genuine gift or a concealed mechanism for transferring funds as part of a larger pattern of alleged financial misconduct.
Further pressure was applied through investigations conducted by the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS). As part of a lifestyle audit, BURS examined Kgosi’s acquisitions, which included farms, cattle, and other high-value assets. The audit reportedly produced findings that aligned with concerns raised in corruption and money-laundering inquiries, reinforcing State agencies’ interest in maintaining restraints over the disputed assets.
Despite the long trail of allegations and counterclaims, both parties have now signalled a willingness to continue working toward a comprehensive resolution.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the parties informed the court that they were still engaged in discussions aimed at finalising an acceptable settlement. They requested an additional two weeks to explore possible agreement terms.
The court granted the request, allowing the parties more time to determine whether all outstanding issues could be resolved without further litigation. Should the negotiations fail, the matter is expected to proceed to arguments, potentially reopening the detailed and often contentious history that has characterised the dispute.
For now, the future of Sentlhane Farm and the contested cattle remains uncertain, pending the outcome of the continuing talks between the estate and the state authorities.