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Deputy Sheriffs, Court Bailiffs (Messengers of Court )

Overview

Deputy sheriffs, court bailiffs and messengers of court are court officers appointed by the registrar of the high court.

Deputy sheriffs are appointed for the high court, whilst court bailiffs  are appointed for the magistrate’s courts.

What Are Their Duties?

  1. To serv​​e court processes and perform other functions as provided for under the rules of the high court and magistrate courts.
  2. Serving writs of summons, provisional summons, petitions, applications and warrant of arrest, etc.
  3. Deputy sheriffs are also responsible for enforcing and executing orders of the courts e.g through effecting attachments, advertising sales in execution and executing writs through public auctions of movable and immovable properties.
  4. Also responsible for enforcing court orders and warrants for civil imprisonment.
  5. They can also through the prescribed process be engaged to serve court processes from foreign jurisdictions.

Where do I find these Deputy Sheriffs?

  1. Are expected to act independently.
  2. They act as agents of the court, and not of either party to the judgement.
  3. They are by law expected to report and account to the Sheriff for the proper discharge of their functions.
  4. Deputy sheriffs are each appointed to specific districts in which to operate. These territorial jurisdiction specific appointments are intended to provide citizens with better access to their services and to ensure fair distribution of work amongst these officers. ​​​

How do I recognize them?

  1. Deputy sheriff is given an ID card containing his or her particulars and photo. When executing their duties as an officer of the court, the Deputy sheriffs are expected to display the ID.
  2. Court bailiff  are appointed and regulated through the Public Service Act. This specific category of employees is mostly predominantly operating in Magistrates Courts throughout the country.

Are Deputy Sheriffs allowed to prepare summonses for members of the public?

  1. Deputy Sheriffs are messengers and officers of the Court. In that sense they do work for the courts and the public.
  2. They are not expected to operate like lawyers. It is not their duty to prepare summonses on behalf of members of the public.

Is a deputy sheriff allowed to represent a person in court?

A deputy sheriff cannot represent a person in court as he is not a lawyer.

Are deputy sheriffs debt collectors as well?

  1. Deputy sheriffs are not appointed to operate debt collection companies.
  2. Although they collect debts on behalf of judgment creditors they are not debt collectors in the sense of running debt collection business. They are officers of the court who will only collect debts pursuant to a judgment of the court.

How do a deputy sheriff/court bailiff  recover money owed?

A deputy sheriff is given instructions by the party who won the case (at times referred to as the Judgment Creditor) to enforce the order of the court made in that party’s favour. This could take numerous forms, such as obtaining, removing or selling at auction property of the party who lost the case (also known as the Judgment Debtor).
 

Who is eligible?

The party who won the case

How do I get this service?
  • Deputy Sheriffs are appointed to act within a specific area within a District
  • Bailiffs are stationed at all magistrate courts
How much does it cost?

From the Deputy Sheriffs tariffs 

Where can I obtain this service?

 HIGH COURTS AND MAGISTRATES COURTS CONTACTS

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

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

Gaborone -  Village 
Private Bag  X10
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 3956381

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
Where can I get more information on this Service

The Registrar and Master
High Court - Gaborone
Private Bag 00220
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel: (+267) 3718000 / (+267) 3971706
Fax: (+267) 3915119

Opening Hours: 07:30 to 12:45 and 13:45 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.​

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