responsibility did take some steps to remedy the complainant's situation by granting him a certificate of
citizenship in June 1995, under Section 9(2) of the Citizenship Act of Botswana.
91. Deportation or expulsion has serious implications on other fundamental rights of the victim, and in
some instances, the relatives. Having decided on the issue of Modise's citizenship, the Commission
would now advert [sic] its mind to the other claims made by the Complainant, in order to determine
whether his rights guaranteed under the Charter have been violated.
92. The Complainant contends that his incessant deportation, constant threats of deportation and the
accompanying disastrous consequences constitute a violation of Article 5 of the Charter. The facts of
this case reveal that the Complainant was deported four times to South Africa, and on all these
occasions, he was rejected. He was forced to live for eight years in the "homeland" of
Bophuthatswana, and then for another seven years in "No Man's Land", a border strip between the
former South African Homeland of Bophuthatswana, and Botswana. These acts exposed him to
personal suffering and indignity in violation of the right to freedom from cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment guaranteed under Article 5 of the Charter. Article 5of the Charter provides:
Every individual shall have the right to the respect of the dignity inherent in a human being and to the
recognition of his legal status. All forms of exploitation and degradation of man particularly…torture,
cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and treatment shall be prohibited.
93. The deportation also deprived him of his family, and his family, of his support. The Commission
finds this in violation of the Complainant's right to family life enshrined under Article 18(1) of the
Charter. Article 18(1) provides:
The family shall be the natural unit and basis of society. It shall be protected by the State which shall
take care of its physical health and moral.
94. The Complainant alleges, and the State has not contested that he had been deported four times
from Botswana. The Complainant also detailed his plights as a result of these acts. In this
circumstance, the Commission finds that the said deportations had greatly jeopardised the
Complainant's right to freedom of movement, as a citizen of Botswana, in contravention of his rights
under Article 12(1) of the Charter. It also infringed upon his right to leave and to return to his country
guaranteed by Article 12(2) of the Charter. Articles 12 (1) and (2) provide:
(1) Every individual shall have the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of a
State provided he abides by the law.
(2) Every individual shall have the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his
country. This right may only be subject to restrictions, provided for by law for the protection of national
security, law and order, public health or morality.
95. The Complainant also claimed to have suffered heavy financial loses, since the Government of
Botswana confiscated his belongings and property. The Government of Botswana has not refuted this
allegation. It is trite law that where facts go uncontested by a party, in this case, the respondent state,
such would be taken as given. The Commission therefore finds the above action of the Government of
Botswana an encroachment of the Complainant's right to property guaranteed underArticle 14 of the
Charter. Article 14 reads:
The right to property shall be guaranteed. It may only be encroached upon in the interest of public
need or in the general interest of the community and in accordance with the provisions of appropriate
laws.
96. The Complainant alleges that in 1978, he was one of the founders and leaders of an opposition
party, the Botswana National Front. He alleges further that it was as a result of his political activities
that he was declared an "undesirable immigrant" in Botswana by the government. He contends that
citizenship by registration, which the respondent government granted to him is in several ways inferior