Urban Customary Court

Urban Customary Court is a customary court in Gaborone, Botswana. Customary courts are part of Botswana's state justice system and hear cases under customary law. The Government of Botswana's online service guide explains how cases reach them. Civil and criminal cases that fall within the court's warrant jurisdiction may be tried at a customary court, or kgotla, where the accused or defendant agrees. Civil matters are reported to the court directly, where the complaint is registered and a hearing date is set. Criminal matters are reported to the Botswana Police, who decide whether the case goes to a customary court or a magistrate's court. The guide lists a national identity card (Omang) or passport as the identification required, together with a residence permit for foreign residents and registration documents for businesses. Botswana's customary courts are constituted under the Customary Courts Act and draw on the tradition of the kgotla, the community meeting place and traditional law court of a Botswana village, usually headed by the chief or a headman. Gaborone was founded in 1964 as the capital of the soon-to-be independent country and is named after Chief Gaborone of the Tlokwa people, who once controlled land nearby. The city lies within 15 km of the South African border and had 246,325 inhabitants at the 2022 census, about a tenth of Botswana's population. The court has not published its sitting days, office hours or telephone number online.

8WG6+QWC, Gaborone, Botswana
Gaborone

24°40′23″S 25°54′44″E