Botswana Has Denied Entry to the South African President's Sister-in-Law

Ordinarily, South Africans do not require a visa to travel to Botswana, a neighboring country. However, the wife to South African Minister of Energy Jeff Radebe and sister-in-law to President Cyril Ramaphosa, was instructed by the Botswana government to obtain a visa according to theSowetanLIVE.

Although an official reason was not given for barring her from entering the country without a visa, the local media believe it is because Bridgette Radebe meddled in the political affairs of the country.

It is alleged that Radebe interfered in the recent election in an attempt to remove President Mokgweetsi Masisi of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and have him replaced by Botswana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi.

In what was allegedly seen as an elaborate plot to smuggle money into the country in order to finance Venson-Moitoi's election campaign, one can hardly blame Botswana's government for wanting to at least restrict Radebe from coming and going as she pleases.

Whilst she and her brother have released no official statements as yet, News24 reported that President Ramaphosa has since sent the Minister of International Relations, Lindiwe Sisulu, to Botswana in order to investigate whether his sister-in-law did in fact meddle in the country's affairs as well as to repair relations with President Masisi.

With only a few weeks left before South Africa's own national elections, President Ramaphosa cannot afford any further scandals that rock the country and comprise the ruling African National Congress's (ANC) chances of being victorious.

READ: South African Youth on 2019 Elections: "The ANC can no longer self-correct"