Programme News
10 September 2014
(News)
Botswana citizen Edwin Samotse - now possibly languishing in jail in that country - is the subject of frantic cross-border diplomatic efforts to save him from execution if he is convicted of murder.
The Botswana government sought Samotse's extradition after learning he had slipped into South Africa. South Africa refused to repatriate him when Botswana would not give assurances that he...
9 September 2014
(Press release)
Public violence charges have been withdrawn against 32 Samancor mineworkers in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court.
The striking mineworkers were arrested in October 2012 in the North West. They were accused of unlawfully assembling to disturb public peace and security by protesting during a wage dispute with their employer, Samancor.
The mineworkers had refused to accept a plea agreement...
9 September 2014
(News)
Home Affairs inquires illegal deportation
The illegal deportation of a Botswana national who could face the death penalty is being investigated, the Home Affairs department said.
Edwin Samotse is accused of murder in his home country, spokesman Mayihlome Tshwete said in a statement.
Two home affairs officials have been suspended for allegedly arranging his transfer back to Botswana on August 13...
8 September 2014
(News)
Deported Botswana national ‘in danger’
The life of a Botswana national is hanging in the balance after the Home Affairs Department deported him to his home country were he is facing capital punishment.
Lawyers for Human Rights have now taken up Edwin Samotse’s cause and is taking the department to the high court following the deportation. Lawyers for Human Right’s David...
8 September 2014
(News)
The illegal deportation of a Botswana man who could face the death penalty is being investigated, the home affairs department said on Tuesday.
Edwin Samotse is accused of murder in his home country, spokesman Mayihlome Tshwete said in a statement.
Two home affairs officials have been suspended for allegedly arranging his transfer back to Botswana on August 13 without authority to do so....
8 September 2014
(News)
The life of a Botswana national is hanging in the balance after the Home Affairs Department deported him to his home country were he is facing capital punishment.
Lawyers for Human Rights have now taken up Edwin Samotse’s cause and is taking the department to the high court following the deportation. Lawyers for Human Right’s David Cote said Samotse was deported to Botswana despite an...
5 September 2014
(News)
The bubbly 12-year-old speaking animatedly from her hospital bed barely resembles the girl who made headlines in July when her brother went to court to save her life.
The young girl’s plight was revealed after her 26-year-old brother went to the Pretoria High Court to get his sister admitted to Pretoria’s Steve Biko Academic Hospital for a life-saving heart operation.
He claimed that...
Press statement: Home Affairs thwarts law again – deports Botswana national at risk of death penalty
4 September 2014
(Press release)
Lawyers for Human Rights is appalled at the Home Affairs Department’s latest blatant disregard for the rule of law by deporting a Botswana national facing the possibility of the death penalty. This is despite an order from the Justice Minister that he may not be extradited as well as clear and unambigous law prohibiting Home Affairs from doing so.
LHR will be joining Legal Aid South Africa...
4 September 2014
(News)
The arms deal commission says it will issue subpoenas to the three witnesses who recently quit the inquiry.
The Seriti commission of inquiry will issue subpoenas to the three arms deal critics who withdrew from participation, it said on Wednesday.
“The chairperson indicated yesterday [on Tuesday] that the commission will issue subpoenas to the three witnesses,” spokesperson William...
4 September 2014
(News)
Judging by the tenor of events at the arms deal commission on Wednesday, Joe Modise’s family has longed to confront his accusers for some time. On Wednesday, Judge Willie Seriti granted the deceased minister’s wife, Jackie Sedibe, and one of his daughters an opportunity to do just that.
The only problem was that Modise’s accuser, former Inkatha Freedom Party MP Gavin Woods, was...