Treason trial gets going again
2003-08-04 08:43
Pretoria - The treason trial of 22 alleged members of the rightwing Boeremag organisation was to resume in Pretoria High Court on Monday.
The trial was postponed on June 24 to allow the defence to gather its witnesses and experts.
These were to have included former president F W de Klerk and his constitutional development minister Roelf Meyer.
But, the same court last week set aside a witness subpoena issued for De Klerk, prompting the defence to withdraw a similar summons issued for Meyer.
Defence attorney Paul Kruger said last week he would persist in his efforts to get the two before court, saying he intended asking Judge Eben Jordaan to call them himself, as witnesses for the court.
Kruger wanted the men to give evidence in support of a special plea entered by 13 of the trialists that the court had no jurisdiction over them.
They contend the constitution, the government and its institutions are illegitimate.
Claim 1994 elections not 'free and fair'
They claim De Klerk reneged on an undertaking that no constitutional legislation would be adopted before the then-electorate had been consulted.
They also contend that, on De Klerk's own version, the 1994 general elections were wrongly declared free and fair - thus laying an irregular basis for the present government.
The 22 trialists stand accused of plotting to overthrow the government with the objective of declaring a Boer republic.
They face 42 charges, including treason, terrorism, sabotage, murder, and several firearms and explosives violations.
- SAPA