A motion for an interlocutory injunction was brought to prevent the City of Toronto from enforcing its By-law that prohibited camping and erecting tents, structures, and shelters in City parks, City of Toronto Municipal Code, c. 608. The applicants did not challenge the validity of the By-law but sought an order to have it suspended …Read more

The applicants appealed a decision affirming the constitutionality of Brian’s Law (Mental Health Legislative Reform), 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 9. (“Brian’s Law”), which was enacted by the Ontario legislature in 2000. Brian’s Law amended the Mental Health Act (“MHA”), adding provisions that expanded criteria for involuntary committal in a psychiatric hospital and introduced community treatment …Read more

The applicants’ claim was based on s. 27(1)(b) of the Constitution – the right to sufficient food and water, which they submitted found further expression in the provisions of the Water Services Act 108 of 1997 (“WSA”). Their complaint argued that farm occupiers and labour tenants, especially the applicants, lacked “access to sufficient water, basic …Read more

The applicant, Mr. Slavko Krajnc, was a professional truck driver in Celje, Slovenia. On September 29, 2003, Krajnc was deemed to have “category III work-related disability” as a result of his epilepsy, which rendered him unable to work as a truck driver. Accordingly, he had the right to be assigned to a different, more suitable …Read more

Case 1: Tapela and Piye, two Zimbabwean nationals imprisoned in Botswana, both contracted HIV in prison. They were refused antiretroviral treatment for their condition based on a internal directive issued by the national government to all public medical institutions and personnel on March 26, 2004, indicating that testing, assessment, and treatment with antiretroviral and highly active …Read more

The applicants, two prisoners with HIV and an interested non-governmental organization, complain that the policy of denying Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (“HAART”) to non-citizen inmates is a violation of the rights of such non-citizen prisoners under the Constitution of Botswana. HAART is a drug treatment that helps control HIV mutation and reduces the likelihood of …Read more

Appellants, a married couple who are members of an indigenous community known as the “Basarwa,” sought reversal of a High Court decision that had denied members of the Basarwa communities a constitutional right to utilize at their own expense a borehole located within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) for purposes of extracting and using …Read more

In March 2002, the Botswana Government terminated certain basic services to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), including access to: Drinking water; Maintenance of borehole water; Rations to registered destitute; Rations to registered orphans; Transport for the applicants’ children to and from school; and Healthcare to the applicants through mobile clinics and ambulance services. The …Read more

The Applicant, Lemo, was employed by the Respondent, Northern Air Maintenance, as a trainee aircraft engineer. During a period of four years, the Applicant’s health deteriorated considerably. He consistently exhausted his annual and sick leave days and took unpaid leave, often for months at a time, in order to obtain medical assistance. Due to his …Read more

The applicant was denied the opportunity to become a permanent employee at the end of the probation period of her job. According to the applicant, the decision to withhold extending her position was based on her refusal to undergo an HIV test as a condition for permanent employment. The plaintiff therefore sought an order declaring …Read more

D was offered employment by B, a building society, as a security officer, subjecting her to undergoing and passing a full medical examination, including submission of certified documentation as to her HIV status. D began a six month probationary period which finished on 27 August 2002. After some reflection D informed B on 7 October …Read more

The case discusses the constitutionality of a statute that denied bail to people accused of rape. Marapo was arrested and charged with rape. Under Section 142(1)(i) of the Botswana Penal Code, he was not entitled to bail before trial. Marapo brought his case to the High Court, arguing that section 142(1)(i) of the Penal Code …Read more

M was convicted of rape. Under s 142(2) of the Penal Code (as amended by the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 1998 (No 5 of 1998)) he was required to undergo an HIV test before being sentenced. M tested positive. Under s 142(4)(a) a person convicted of rape who proves to have HIV is subject to …Read more

The Student Representative Council of the Molepolole College of Education brought legal action against the Attorney General as representative of the Principal of the Molepolole College of Education and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education (respondents) on behalf of students affected by regulations of the Teacher’s Training College. Specifically, the Council challenged the Regulation 6 of the …Read more

The Appellant provided a woman with traditional medical treatment. This treatment involved the Appellant placing his hands on the woman’s abdomen and applying pressure. The Appellant applied enough pressure during the treatment to rupture the woman’s spleen, causing a hemorrhage that resulted in her death. The Appellant, who had practiced traditional medicine for 15 years …Read more