The trial of nine men accused of involvement in a planned coup d’etat in Equatorial Guinea was postponed until July in the Pretoria Regional Court on Monday.
Under an arrangement with the defence, the men — all out on warning — did not appear in court, said prosecutor Torie Pretorius.
Their trial has been set down for July 31 to August 4, August 7 to August 11, and August 21 to August 25.
The men are part of a group of 61 who returned to South Africa in May after spending more than a year in a Zimbabwean prison.
South African authorities have declined to prosecute the rest. The 61 were convicted in Zimbabwe of violating immigration, aviation, firearms and security laws related to an alleged plot to topple the government of Equatorial Guinea president Theodoro Obiang Nguema.
They had earlier been arrested at Harare’s International Airport where they apparently landed to refuel and collect military equipment.
In terms of the Regulation of the Foreign Military Assistance Act, South Africans, or any persons based in the country, are prohibited from involvement in mercenary activities without the permission of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee.
The law also prohibits citizens or anybody operating form South Africa, from taking part in the overthrow of any government. – Sapa