South African businesswoman Bridgette Motsepe has resumed her long fight to clear her name of allegations of money laundering and fraud in Botswana.
She has also been accused of helping finance a “coup” attempt against Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi in 2019, and of bankrolling his opponent’s campaign months before last year’s general elections in October.
Motsepe said the allegation that she was a co-signatory of at least two bank accounts holding funds allegedly stolen from the Botswana government to finance the “coup” was baseless.
She said she has appointed an international law firm to clear her name by investigating the money laundering allegations, and said she would sue those who made these false allegations against her.
However, the matter against Motsepe, who is President Cyril Ramaphosa’s sister-in-law, has strained diplomatic relations with Botswana.
