Twenty-two alleged members of the right-wing Boeremag organisation are to go on trial for treason on Monday over a suspected plot to overthrow the government.
The Pretoria High Court trial, starting more than a year after the first men were arrested in connection with the planned coup d’état, could last for over two years.
The State has over 600 witness statements and 369 witnesses. The matter is to be heard by Judge Eben Jordaan and two assessors in the recently re-opened Palace of Justice.
The State alleges the men planned to overthrow the African National Congress-led government and proclaim a Boer republic. They allegedly intended killing all blacks and Indians, or chasing them out of the country.
Nineteen of the accused applied for assistance from the Legal Aid Board. Twelve of them later withdrew their applications. The remaining seven were all granted legal aid.
A defence lawyer said on Thursday his clients intended applying for the recusal of prosecutor Paul Fick, SC, on the first day of the trial.
Once the matter gets underway, it is expected to be held up by a trial within a trial over the issue of the court’s jurisdiction, which some of the accused are contesting.
National Directorate of Public Prosecutions spokesman Sipho Ngwema said last week the State was prepared for the case to begin on Monday, and was ready to contest any jurisdictional challenges.
The men face a main charge of high treason. There are four alternative charges of terrorism, and four more of sabotage. A murder charge is also listed, for the death of Claudia Mamatsieng Mokone in a bomb blast in Soweto in October last year.
There is a charge of attempted murder for an alleged plan to blow up a car transporting former president Nelson Mandela, and an alternative charge of conspiracy to murder.
The rest of the 43 charges relate to contraventions of legislation governing the possession and use of explosives, arms and ammunition.
A twenty-third accused, Dawid Oosthuizen, pleaded guilty in the same court on Friday and was given in effect an eight-year sentence.
He said he would be prepared to testify for the State against the other 22. – Sapa