In a civil case, a plaintiff may apply for a default judgment where the defendant has not filed an appearance. Judgement may be entered against such party.
- Plaintiff in case or other non-criminal disputes involving damages of more than BWP60 000.00 at the Magistrate court
- Any individual or organisation involved as a plaintiff in a High Court case is eligible to apply for a default judgement following the failure to appear by the defendant in a civil case.
- Once the defendant has failed to appear at the set court date or enter a defence within the allotted time, an applicant can request a default judgement by filing one of the application for judgment in default most relevant to the situation involved (as outlined below).
- The application form is to be submitted to the Registrar of the High Court/ Magistrate
The applicant should file one of the following forms depending on the situation:
- Applicant is requesting award in monetary terms for specified amount or an amount easily ascertainable with interest. Application for Judgment in Default -Demand Liquidated.
- Applicant is requesting award for damages in an amount to be determined by the court. Application for Judgment in Default - Demand unliquidated.
- Applicant is requesting a return of goods in possession to the plaintiff or monetary equivalent . Judgment in Default - Detention of Goods .
- Applicant seeks to recover possession only of land currently held by the defendant. No monetary awards for damages. Interlocutory Judgment in Default – Lands, Damages and Costs (Form 33).
- Applicant seeks to recover possession only of land currently held by the defendant. No monetary awards for damages. Judgment in Default – Recovery of Land Only (Form 34).
- Applicant is requesting an award in cash for damages as in the initial case filing for damages with interest. This is for situations where the defendant has failed to appear at every court date. Request for Default Judgment.
Three months
A processing fee of BWP120.00.
HIGH COURTS AND MAGISTRATES COURTS CONTACTS
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Court of Appeal Private Bag 00316 Gaborone Botswana Tel: (+267) 371 8000 |
Gaborone High Court P O Box 00220 Gaborone Botswana Tel: (+267) 3718000 Fax: (+267) 3915119 |
Francistown High Court Private Bag F13 Francistown Botswana Tel: +267 241 2125 Fax. (+267) 2416378 |
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Lobatse High Court Private Bag 001 Lobatse Botswana Tel: +267 5338000 Fax: (+267) 5332317 |
Regional Magistrate Court-North Private Bag F149 Francistown Botswana Tel: (+267) 2410624 |
Regional Magistrate Court- South Private Bag BR293 Gaborone Botswana Tel: (+267) 3956339 |
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Gaborone - Village |
Extension II Private Bag X10 Gaborone Botswana Tel. (+267) 3956381 |
Lobatse Private Bag 16 Lobatse Botswana Tel. (+267) 5330540 |
| Kanye Private Bag 17 Kanye Botswana Tel. (+267) 5440276/ 78 |
Jwaneng Private Bag 10 Jwaneng Botswana Tel. (+267) 5880628 |
Mochudi Private Bag 029 Mochudi Botswana Tel. (+267) 5777601 |
| Molepolole Private Bag 0022 Molepolole Botswana Tel. (+267) 5920402 |
Tsabong Private Bag 359 Tsabong Botswana Tel. (+267) 6540277 |
Gantsi P. O. Box 206 Gantsi Botswana Tel. (+267) 6596352 |
| Maun Private Bag 0271 Maun Botswana Tel. (+267) 6860370 |
Francistown Private Bag F19 Francistown Botswana Tel. (+267) 2413793 |
Masunga Private Bag 11 Masunga Botswana Tel. (+267) 2489277 |
| Letlhakane Private Bag 32 Letlhakane Botswana Tel. (+267) 2976666 |
Selibe Phikwe Private Bag 003 Selibe Phikwe Botswana Tel. (+267) 2610321 |
Serowe Private Bag 14 Serowe Botswana Tel. (+267) 4630386 |
| Palapye Private Bag 15 Palapye Botswana Tel. (+267) 4920401 |
Mahalapye P. O. Box 22 Mahalapye Botswana Tel. (+267) 4710326 |
Kasane Private Bag K5 Kasane Botswana Tel. (+267) 6250337 |
| Hukuntsi Private Bag 10 Hukuntsi Botswana Tel. (+267) 6510148 |
Bobonong Private Bag 003 Selibe Phikwe Botswana Tel. (+267) 2629790 |
Gumare P. O. Box 35 Gumare Botswana Tel. (+267) 6874511 |
The Registrar and Master
High Court - Gaborone
Private Bag 00220
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel: (+267) 3718000 / (+267) 3971706
Fax: (+267) 3915119
The Deputy Registrar
High court of Botswana
Private Bag F13
Francistown
Tel: (+267) 2412125 / (+267) 2416378
Fax. (+267) 2416378
The Deputy Registrar
High Court - Lobatse
Private Bag 001
Lobatse
Botswana
Tel: (+267) 5338000 / (+267) 5332317
Fax: (+267) 5332317
Further information on the Originating process can be found in Order 6, Rules of the High Court.
Opening hours 07:30 to 12:45 and 13:45 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.