Seabelo's multi-million Pula divorce settlement

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Thursday January 19, 2012 00:00

 

Tlhaselo, who is better known by his first name, also surrendered lucrative bus routes to his wife, Anna Mmapona Tlhaselo, who is planning to run the transport business under a new name, Mmapona Express, in accordance with the settlement that allows her to re-brand the 12 Seabelo Express buses with effect from December 31, 2011. She filed for the divorce in which she was represented by attorney Unity Dow.

However, in a curious legal twist, the divorce settlement - which was concluded on December 20 before Justice Garekwe - gives Seabelo the right to Seabelo Express, while his erstwhile wife wins all the 12 buses that have traditionally operated under Seabelo Express, leaving the man without a single bus to his name. Infact, his former wife will now be the sole owner of the famous plot and property known as Seabelo House on Kamushongo Road in Gaborone West Industrial Estate. Seabelo has six months to vacate the premises.

The lucrative routes that the proposed new entity, Mmapona Express, will inherit include the Lobatse-Gaborone, Gaborone-Francistown and Serowe-Gaborone. Seabelo's former wife also keeps mansions in Gaborone's Phakalane, the Village, Block 7 and four plots at Mabapi Estates near Phakalane.   In addition, she won a business building in Ramotswa, an undeveloped plot at Hillside and Kgale Court office building. The settlement also gives her half of an undisclosed amount of money belonging to Seabelo Express at BancABC.  What remains for the man is the rather humble matrimonial home in Ramotswa, a residential house at Lion's Park, 10 motor vehicles, a motorbike and seven trucks and 15 trailers that he traditionally used to operate Seabelo Carriers, the haulage company. Even so, Seabelo's former wife will remain with directorships of Seabelo Carriers. This effectively means the settlement leaves Seabelo with Seabelo Express but without the buses and Mmapona with Seabelo Carriers but without the trucks.

Consequently, Seabelo - who was represented by attorney R. Keevil - was instructed to transfer all directorships of Seabelo Carriers to Mmapona.