The trial of former South African President P.W. Botha was postponed today to give lawyers time to negotiate a possible settlement and halt the court case, this according to Botha’s lawyer. Botha has been charged with refusing to appear before the statutory Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which is investigating human rights abuses committed by all sides during the apartheid conflict. TRC Chair Archbishop Desmond Tutu told reporters that negotiations were continuing, but he could not say when they were likely to be completed.