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GABORONE – Botswana banned the wife of a South African minister, sister of a powerful mining mogul and sister-in-law of the president, from entering the country without a visa, according to documents reached AFP on Tuesday.
A paper issued by Botswana's Immigration Minister, Magang Ngaka Ngaka, on April 17, 2019, states that the wife of South African Energy Minister, Jeff Radebe, Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe , must "get a visa to enter Botswana".
WATCH: Radebe sets the record straight on the oil deal in South Sudan
The official reason for the move is not given, but the local media accused her of interfering in Botswana's politics.
Motsepe-Radebe, 59, is president of the South African Mining Development Association.
She is also the elder sister of billionaire Patrice Motsepe and the first lady of South Africa, Tshepo Motsepe.
Forbes explains that Patrice Motsepe became in 2008 the first black African on his rich list. He estimates his fortune at 2.5 billion dollars (35.9 billion rand).
South Africans do not normally require prior visas to visit their landlocked, diamond-rich neighbor, although several prominent figures have been prevented from entering the country without first seeking permission.
The document did not justify the visa requirement, although Ms. Motsepe-Radebe was accused of having intervened in the recent election to the leadership of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in order to to remove President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
READ: Radebe denies conflict of interest in PPIs
According to local media reports, former foreign minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, a former foreign minister, allegedly financed President Masisi's rival campaign as the party's top official.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sent Foreign Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to Gaborone last week, after accusations were made to the press that his sister-in-law had politically mingled.
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