Two apartheid-era police bosses will know on Tuesday when they will stand trial for the alleged poisoning of Reverend Frank Chikane.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it was ready to prosecute former minister of law and order Adriaan Vlok and ex-police chief Johann van der Merwe.
Chikane was the secretary general of the South African Council of Churches when his underwear was lined with a poison that attacked his nervous system in 1989.
Vlok and Van der Merwe were meant to stand trial in the Pretoria High Court in 2004 but the NPA reversed its decision to prosecute them.
On Monday NPA spokesperson Panyaza Lesufi, however, said this time the trial would go ahead. He said all that remained was for a judge to be appointed and a trial date to be set.
Vlok refused to comment on the matter, but appeared cheerful.
”At this stage no comment at all. I am in good spirits; the Lord will take me through but I have no comment on this matter,” was all he would say.
Last September Vlok asked Chikane’s forgiveness and washed his feet.
Van der Merwe could not be reached for comment.
Chikane — a Director General in the Presidency — has repeatedly asked others to come forward and reveal what happened in 1989, but has never called for prosecution. — Sapa