Mabeo goes after ‘cyberbully’
Innocent Selatlhwa | Wednesday March 25, 2026 06:40
The legislator has, through attorney Kitsoyaone Lekang, written a cease and desist letter to Pilane over a comment in a Facebook post by another user. According to the letter, Pilane commented on a Facebook post, posted by one user under the name SLAX JNR on March 12, 2026. The post was to the effect that “Mabeo will slap someone someday”.
Pilane is said to have commented in the said post, stating that 'di drugs di tla mmolaa blind, hao bona itlhele a sikere rack suck ke yone line ya di cat'. 'Drugs will definitely kill him, and the reason he always carries a backpack emanates from using cat' (aka methcathinone).
Lekang wrote: “It is our directive that you had no lawful reason to utter such words to client, but you continued to do so despite knowing that your utterances were untruthful. Further, you knew that your words were aimed at depicting our client to be a drug user, and that your statements were aimed at harming his good name.”
It is from the foregoing that the attorney demands that Pilane cease and desist from posting or commenting on posts that are defamatory to their client with immediate effect.
Further, Mabeo wants Pilane to publish a written apology in one newspaper circulating in Botswana, and post an apology on his wall within five days of receipt of the memoir and remove all offending comments and/or posts referred to herein. The said apology should be posted for five continuous days.
According to Lekang, they hold strict instructions to escalate the matter to legally recognised dispute avenues vested with the necessary powers to adjudicate the matter, should Pilane fail to do what has been outlined above.
They would seek amongst others “damages for defamation, cost of suit on an attorney-client scale and/or any other remedy which may be suited to safeguard our client's interest”.
Mabeo’s case follows a similar trend whereby defamation cases on Facebook are rising in Botswana, driven by the misuse of social media to spread allegations, which courts treat as both civil wrongs and potential criminal offences.
Key cases involve high-stakes political disputes, including allegations against officials, while others involve citizens, celebrities, and accusations against media figures or influencers.
Sections 192–199 of the Penal Code allow for charges when false information is published, with penalties including up to two years in prison.
Victims can sue for damages to their reputation, and recent cases highlight that even with constitutional freedom of expression, it is not absolute.