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

While incarcerated in congested prison with poor hygienic conditions, Dudley Lee was infected with tuberculosis (TB).  The responsible prison authorities were aware of the risk of the inmates’ contracting TB, but did not have a comprehensive system in place to reduce the risk of infection. Rather, the prison authorities relied on a system of inmates …Read more

Mr Mankayi brought an action for delictual (tort) damages against AngloGold Ashanti Limited (AngloGold). While working as an underground mineworker between January 1979 and September 1995, Mr Mankayi claimed to have been exposed to harmful dusts and gases that led to his contracting tuberculosis and a chronic obstructive airway condition; these ailments rendered him unable …Read more

This was an appeal from an order of the South Gauteng High Court. The Applicants were members of the Harry Gwala Informal Settlement (Settlement). They approached the High Court for an order against the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (Municipality) to install communal water taps, temporary sanitation facilities, refuse removal facilitation and high-mast lighting in key areas, …Read more

Five impoverished residents of Phiri in Soweto filed a legal action against the City of Johannesburg, the water provider company wholly owned by the City, and the Ministry of Water Affairs and Forestry, challenging the legality of Operation Gcin’amanzi–a project the City of Johannesburg piloted in Phiri in early 2004 to address the severe problem …Read more

A publishing company published a biography on a South African member of parliament that disclosed the names of three women who were HIV-positive. The three women alleged that their names had been published in the book without their prior consent having been obtained. They had participated in clinical trials, known as the FTC 302 trials, directed …Read more

In this constitutional challenge, the Applicants, including the Affordable Medicines Trust, applied for leave to appeal directly to the Constitutional Court an order of the High Court, which dismissed their constitutional challenge of certain aspects of a Government licensing scheme. The licensing scheme provided that health care providers, such as medical practitioners and dentists, could …Read more

The applicant, the Doctors for Life International, filed a claim against the National Council of Provinces. The applicant contended that according to the South African Constitution and International Law, public hearings must be held in respect to all legislation under consideration by a legislative branch whether at the national or provincial level. In the case …Read more

The applicant challenged the validity of four draft bills relating to health rights. One bill allowed registered nurses to perform abortions at certain public and private facilities. The applicant alleged that the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and the provincial legislatures failed to fulfill their respective obligations under sections 72(1)(a) and 118(1)(a) of the Constitution …Read more

This case involved the regulation of fees for the dispensing of medicines by public and private pharmacies. The first Applicant (the Minister) had made and published the Regulations Relating to a Transparent Pricing System for Medicines and Scheduled Substances (the Regulations) under the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 (the Medicines Act). The …Read more

The applicants in this case were 69 South African citizens held in Zimbabwe on a variety of charges, including the possession of and attempt to smuggle dangerous weapons. The applicants initially brought a claim before the High Court seeking to require that the South African Government: (1) take steps to have them extradited to South Africa so that …Read more

The Constitutional Court was asked to determine whether the appellant (Government) was required to give effect, pending an appeal, to an order of the High Court which directed it to make the drug nevirapine available to mothers and their newborn babies in public health facilities under certain circumstances and conditions. The order concerned the programme …Read more

The government of South Africa developed a national public health program to address mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The purpose of the program was to offer HIV-positive pregnant women nevirapine, a drug that prevents the transmission of HIV at birth, free of charge. The program was, however, limited in scope. It only offered nevirapine at certain …Read more

On 20 August 1996 a police officer entered a brothel owned by the first appellant in Pretoria, paid R250 to the second appellant and a salaried employee, and received a pelvic massage by the third appellant, a prostitute. All three were charged with contravening s20(1)(aA) of the Sexual Offences Act 1957 (‘the Act’) which criminalised …Read more

Ms. Carmichele stayed at a friend’s place where Coetzee, a man who had previous history of violence and sexual misconduct, stalked her and walked around the house. She and her friend reported Coetzee’s abnormal behavior to the local police station but the police claimed that they could do nothing about him. Eventually one day when …Read more

M is a Tanzanian citizen, who was residing in South Africa after obtaining a temporary residence permit, was wanted in the US on a number of capital charges in connection with the bombing of two US embassies in Africa. When seeking to renew his temporary residence permit, M was arrested, detained and questioned by South African immigration …Read more

Mrs. Grootboom and other respondents were homeless and living in appalling conditions. Many had applied for subsidized low-cost housing through the municipality and had been on the waiting list for a period of up to seven years. While waiting for the assignment, they decided to move and illegally live on someone’s private land. Respondents were …Read more

In 1996, the Appellant applied for employment as a cabin attendant with South African Airways (SAA). At the end of the selection process, he was found to be a suitable candidate for employment. He was then subject to a medical examination, which found him clinically fit and thus suitable for employment. However, a blood test …Read more

The Applicants were the South African Human Rights Commission and a coalition of 70 organizations representing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in South Africa. They brought a constitutional challenge to various statutory provisions in South Africa criminalizing homosexual acts. The Applicants claimed that the statutes in question violated sections 9, 10 and 14 of …Read more

M, a medical practitioner in private practice, had his property searched pursuant to section 28(1) of the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act, which empowered inspectors appointed by the respondent Interim National Medical and Dental Council of South Africa (“Council”) to search any premise, place, vehicle, vessel or aircraft where there was a reasonable suspicion …Read more

The appellant was a 41-year old, unemployed, diabetic man who suffered from ischaemic heart disease, cerebro-vascular disease, and renal failure. His condition was chronic and irreversible. In order to continue address this condition and prolong his life, he required regular renal dialysis treatment. The appellant had made all efforts to continue treatment privately, but was …Read more