Mark Thatcher, son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, was released on R2-million bail in the Wynberg Regional Court on Wednesday afternoon.
Thatcher (49) was smartly dressed in a dark suit as he stood in the dock before Magistrate Awie Kotze.
The courtroom was packed with journalists who had waited all day, either at his home in Constantia or at the court building, for his appearance.
Prosecutor Torie Pretorius, attached to the priority criminal investigation unit, appeared for the state.
Pretorius told the court that Thatcher faces two charges — contravention of the Foreign Military Assistance Act and conspiracy to contravene the Act.
Thatcher was arrested earlier on Wednesday by the elite Scorpions detective unit in connection with his alleged role in an alleged aborted coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea.
According to Pretorius, Thatcher allegedly bankrolled the aborted coup attempt to the extent of $275 000 (about R1,7-million).
Thatcher was released on condition that he lodge with the clerk of the court a bank guarantee, a bond of security or security comprising fixed or moveable property to the satisfaction of the state for the amount of R2-million.
This has to be done by 2pm on September 6.
Kotze warned Thatcher to comply strictly with the bail conditions and added: ”You obviously know what the consequences will be if you fail to comply.”
The case was postponed to November 25 for further investigation.
‘Thatcher met with coup plotter’
Earlier on Wednesday, a lead defendant in the coup hearing in Equatorial Guinea testified that Thatcher met with the alleged top conspirator in the months before the alleged foiled coup plot in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.
Nick du Toit, a South African arms dealer facing the death penalty in Malabo for his alleged role, said in court that Thatcher was interested only in purchasing military hardware that was not involved in the alleged coup plot.
”Not at all, this was a normal business deal,” Du Toit said, answering attorney’s questions about whether the contact was about the coup plot.
Eighty-nine men are on trial in Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe for an alleged internationally backed conspiracy to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea, Africa’s number-three oil producer.
Defendants include Britain’s Simon Mann, on trial in Zimbabwe as the alleged top planner for the coup attempt.
Du Toit told the court on Wednesday that Mann had brought Thatcher together with Du Toit in July 2003 in South Africa. But Du Toit said he was interested only in buying military helicopters for what Thatcher said was one of his mining deals with Sudan.
Thatcher ‘like any other citizen’
The British High Commission told the Mail & Guardian Online on Wednesday it would be offering assistance to Thatcher, like it would any British citizen.
”We are aware of the arrest and will offer normal consular assistance to Mark Thatcher like we do to any British national who is arrested in an overseas country. We can’t comment on what help has been given or what help has been requested from the British government,” said Nick Sheppard, British High Commission spokesperson.
‘Thatcher met with coup plotter’
Wayward son of the Iron Lady