Telecoms and internet service provider Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) has successfully appealed a court ruling to prevent some of its property from being auctioned.

The telecommunication firm’s switchboard and billing system were to be auctioned to settle a 3 million pula debt accrued from an unfair dismissal of an employee Edward Lekoko.

Chief Justice Maruping Dibotelo had issued a writ of execution to a deputy sheriff to attach movable goods of BTCL to settle the debt.

But BTCL has successfully appealed the ruling to stop its property from going under the hammer.

Lekoko, who was a BTCL employee for 24 years, was unlawfully demoted from his position as head of network planning and projects following a restructuring process which saw him being appointed as head of technical projects.

He then applied for a voluntary exit package in February 2008, which was turned down by the BTCL leadership.

Subsequently, Lekoko launched an application on notice of motion seeking an order that the termination of his contract of employment was wrongful.

He demanded that BTCL pay him P2,866,460.86, the relevant amount of his exit package.