Two Lawyers in Botswana have filed a complaint against late Steve Rankwane a deceased lawyer seeking praying the Law Society of Botswana to strike off the deceased name from the Roll of Practicing Attorneys, posthumously.
Attorneys Kabo Motswagole and Gosego Lekgowe submitted their plea to the LSB on January 18, 2021 after Rankwane on January 14, 2021 allegedly caused the death of attorney Ms. Chatapiwa Keakantse his ex-girlfriend by shooting and killing her with a gun in front of another man and subsequently killing himself.
In a six paragraph and 9 sub paragraph affidavit obtained by Courtroom Mail, the two lawyers stated that they believe that by committing the crime of murder or killing a fellow practitioner and human being, Steve Rankwane not only breached the national penal law, but also fell afoul of the ethics of the Legal Profession in his capacity as an Attorney.
The affidavit filed is below:
POSTHUMOUS REFERAL OF COMPLAINT OF PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT AND BREACH OF ETHICS BY THE LATE STEVE RANKWANE SUBMITTED TO THELAW SOCIETY OF BOTSWANA ON THE 18 JANUARY 2021
Referral is made in terms of Section 49(1) of the Legal Practitioners Act – CAP 61:01
Referring Attorneys –Gosego Rockfall Lekgowe ,Kabo Godfrey Motswagole
AFFIDAVIT OF REFERRAL OF THE COMPLAINT IN TERMS OF SECTION 49(1) OF THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ACT
We the Undersigned –
GOSEGO ROCKFALL LEKGOWE
KABO GODFREY MOTSWAGOLE
1. We are citizens of Botswana and members of the Law Society of Botswana, in good standing.
2. We do hereby refer this formal complaint of professional misconduct against the late Mr. Steve Rankwane, admitted to the bar as Mr. Steve Sibanda, in 2013. We refer to him as Steve Rankwane hereinafter.
3. Steve Rankwane had been practicing at Armstrongs Attorneys, Acacia Park, Central Business District, Gaborone holding the position of Senior Associate.
4. On the 14th of January 2021, about four days ago, Steve Rankwane deliberately and heartlessly caused the death of Attorney Ms. Chatapiwa Keakantse by shooting her with a gun, murdering her in cold blood.
5. It is now known, by all, including the Law Society of Botswana, that both attorney Ms. Chatapiwa Keakantse and Steve Rankwane are no more.
6. We submit as follows:
6.1.The late Steve Rankwane killed a fellow attorney, in very horrible circumstances that has left the members of the profession and the nation reeling in shock, pain and absolute disbelief;
6.2.He then shot himself and committed suicide – and thereby robbed the society of the opportunity to use the criminal justice machinery to exact justice;
6.3.Steve Rankwane committed the ultimate crime of murder, contrary to Section 202 of the Penal Code;
6.4.Upon admission, an attorney takes an oath to demean himself according to the dictates of the office of an attorney and is ethically expected to behave honorably.
Further, an attorney is ethically required to obey the laws of the country.
6.5.We believe and submit that by committing the crime of murder or killing a fellow practitioner and human being, Steve Rankwane not only breached the national penal law, but also fell afoul of the ethics of the Legal Profession in his capacity as an Attorney.
He further failed the basic tenets of humanity, to not cause harm to a fellow human being no matter the basis;
6.6.It is our solemn and firm persuasion further, that Steve Rankwane, in callously taking the life of Attorney Ms. Chatapiwa Keakantse violated his Attorney’s Oath and his ethics as an Attorney of the High Court of the Republic of Botswana. He has conducted himself disgracefully and dishonorably.
6.7.Thus, having breached national penal law and the ethics of the legal profession, Steve Rankwane is not a fit and a proper person to remain on the Roll of Practicing Attorneys, deceased or alive.
6.8.We have perused the Legal Practitioners’ Act, the Regulations of the Law Society of Botswana and the general law of the land, and have found no bar against the making of a posthumous complaint against an Attorney for Professional Misconduct. We are therefore convinced that the Law Society of Botswana Disciplinary Committee can and must entertain this matter.
6.9.It is our prayer, that the Law Society of Botswana Disciplinary Committee consider our complaint and grant or direct that Mr. Steve Rankwane, be struck off from the Roll of Practicing Attorneys, posthumously.
