Appointment Of Justices Of Appeal

The Judicial Service Commission wishes to inform Members of the Public of the appointment of Judge President Goemekgabo Loeto Tebogo-Maruping as a resident Justice of Appeal and the appointments of Judge Johan Froneman and Judge Bess Nkabinde as non-resident Justices of Appeal for the Court of Appeal of Botswana.

Judge President Tebogo-Maruping replaces Justice Monametsi Steve Gaongalelwe who retired at the end of April 2022. Judge Froneman and Judge Nkabinde replace retired non-resident Justices Hon. Eric Leach and Lord Hamilton.

Judge President Goemekgabo Loeto Tebogo-Maruping graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree from the University of Swaziland (with University of Edinburgh, Scotland) in 1984. He later went on to acquire a Master of Laws (LLM) qualification with the University of London. Judge President Tebogo-Maruping served in the Attorney General’s Chambers from 1984 to 1985 and, from 1985 to 1989, he served as a Lecturer at the University of Botswana. From 1989 to 1999 he served in the corporate world. In May 1999 the Judge President was appointed Deputy Registrar and Master of the High Court, a position he held until August 2002 when he was appointed Registrar, Industrial Court in August 2002. In December 2005, Judge President Tebogo-Maruping was appointed Judge of the Industrial Court. In December 2012 he was appointed the Judge President of the Industrial Court, a position he still held when appointed Justice of Appeal.

Judge Johan Froneman attained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree with UNISA in 1977 and he was admitted as an Advocate in the Republic of South Africa in 1978. He continued his practice as an advocate at the Eastern Cape Bar in Grahamstown from 1980 onwards. In 1990 he obtained Senior Counsel status and was appointed Judge to the Eastern Cape High Court in 1994. In 1996 Judge Froneman was appointed Deputy Judge President of the newly established Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court, a position he held until 1999. He has also served as an Acting Judge in the Supreme Court of Appeal and as an extraordinary Professor in Public Law at the University of Stellenbosch. He currently holds a similar position of extraordinary Professor at the University of the Free State.

Judge Bess Nkabinde obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree from North West University in 1986. She was admitted as an Advocate (in the former Bophuthatswana) in 1988 and, from 1990 to 1999, served as an Advocate, North West Bar. In 1999 she was appointed Judge of the High Court of the Bophuthatswana Provincial Division. She has also acted as Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa and Judge of Appeal, Supreme Court of Namibia.

The Judiciary congratulates Justices Hon. Goemekgabo Loeto Tebogo-Maruping, Hon. Johan Froneman and Hon. Bess Nkabinde on their appointment to the Court of Appeal and wishes them well in their new roles.