Judicial commission unperturbed by doubts about High Court appointee

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Wednesday September 29, 2010 00:00

The secretary to the JSC, Godfrey Nthomiwa, said yesterday that the commission made the recommendation to the president based on the information that was availed to them.

Mothobi's appointment to the High Court brought a barrage of criticism of the system that appoints judges.Mothobi's critics claim that for several years he failed to regularise with the Law Society of Botswana.

He is further accused of failing to avail himself for a disciplinary hearing, where his former employer, the University of Botswana, alleged that he was not doing his job.

Mothobi confirms that the University of Botswana, having asked him to appear for a disciplinary hearing, later withdrew the action.

Nthomiwa did not say whether the JSC will recommend that Mothobi be called to clarify the allegations made against him before he takes the oath as a judge of the High Court.

Asked to respond on whether allegations levelled against Mothobi would not compromise the integrity of the judicial system, Ntlhomiwa said as far as they were concerned, the man qualified for the job.

He stressed that before appointing Mothobi to the bench, the JSC made recommendations to the President. 'The appointing is done by the President whom I believe has satisfied himself before making the final decision,' Nthomiwa said.