Botswana’s settles case with Bridgette Motsepe

Botswana’s government and businesswoman Bridgette Motsepe have reached a High Court–backed settlement to resolve the long-running “Butterfly” case. The agreement includes a formal apology from the state and the withdrawal of previously filed fraud, corruption, and money-laundering claims. The settlement, mediated through a court consent order, follows an investigation by Cherie Blair’s Omnia Strategy law firm, which found no evidence supporting the allegations.

According to Daily Maverick, as part of the settlement, Bridgette Motsepe’s legal team, led by international attorney Cherie Blair, will pursue defamation claims against individuals in South Africa who amplified the discredited accusations. The government has agreed to publish the apology on its official website and in major international media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and CNN, to publicly vindicate Motsepe.

Dubbed the “Butterfly case,” the controversy originated in 2019 when Botswana’s Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime, via investigator Jako Hubona, alleged that Motsepe and former president Ian Khama had conspired to divert funds from the Bank of Botswana into private accounts. Those claims sparked a British-led forensic probe, led by Cherie Blair, which concluded on the international stage that the accusations were fabricated and without merit.

Motsepe, a prominent figure in both Botswana and South Africa and sister to South Africa’s First Lady, highlighted in earlier legal filings that South African banks confirmed there was no trace of the alleged illicit accounts or transactions.

With the settlement in effect, Botswana’s government must execute the apology and retract the allegations as ordered. Motsepe’s legal team will initiate defamation proceedings in South Africa against key incriminators. Meanwhile, these developments bring the saga to a close, potentially resetting diplomatic relations with South Africa and reaffirming trust in Botswana’s judiciary.