The former South African president, PW Botha, the last hard-line apartheid leader, has appeared before a black judge on charges of defying the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The case against him has been postponed until April 14, but Mr Botha used the occasion to make a vigorous defence of his actions during the apartheid era.

Once the judge had finished the 20 minute hearing, he remained in the dock to address journalists.

Botha fires a warning to the ANC

The court appearance attracted hundreds of demonstrators

Mr Botha refused to apologise for fighting what he called communist insurgency, and he referred to apartheid - the policy of strict segregation and white domination - as a form of being a good neighbour.

"Apartheid is an Afrikaans word and can easily be replaced by a positive term good neighbourliness," he said. "I only apologise for my sins before God."

Mr Botha criticised the African National Congress-led government that took power in the country's first all-race elections in 1994.

Judge Victor Lugaju will hear the case in April

He warned that whites, especially Afrikaners, would refuse to tolerate corruption and crime.

"Don't wake up the tiger in the Afrikaner," he said "I am afraid they are busy doing it."

Earlier, Judge Victor Lugaju told Mr Botha he must submit a plea to a contempt charge for ignoring a subpoena to testify in person before the commission investigating apartheid-era political crimes. He must do this by February 23. The trial itself would begin on April 14.

Dressed in a dark suit and walking with the aid of a wooden stick, the former president said nothing as the lawyers argued before him.

The hearing was held in George, a coastal town 240 miles east of Cape Town near where Mr Botha lives in retirement.

Police separate rival supporters

About 300 supporters of the ruling African National Congress booed the former president as he walked slowly towards the court building.

George Museum, a shrine to P W Botha, closed its doors before the hearing for fear of attack

A smiling Mr Botha responded with a wave to the group, after acknowledging a small group of his own followers. A three-metre razor wire barrier watched over by a large police contingent separated the rival groups.

A museum with an exhibit of Botha memorabilia opposite the court closed its doors on Friday for fear demonstrators might attack the building.

If convicted, the former president could be sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay a fine. Because of his failing health, a fine is considered the most likely penalty for conviction.

The Truth Commission's chairman, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, laid charges against Mr Botha on December 19 after he ignored three subpoenas to appear before it.

Archbishop Tutu needs him to testify on the apartheid state's "chain of command" and the security council. This was a body of top police and army officers, as well as cabinet ministers, that imposed a state of emergency in the 1980s in a last-ditch attempt to maintain white rule.
 

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