Botha pleads not guilty to contempt charges

Former South African President P.W. Botha appeared in court in George, Western Cape, to face contempt of the court charges. Botha had incurred the charges after he had dishonoured the subpoenas issued to him to appear before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the body created to grant amnesty to people who had committed political crimes during the apartheid era. Botha plead not guilty to the charges. Judge Laguju set the trial date for April 14.