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The trial involving South African tennis legend Bob Hewitt - who is accused of rape and sexual assault in the 1980s and 90s - is set to start at the Johannesburg High Court, sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court in February next year after he briefly appeared in court on Friday.
The former Grand Slam doubles champion, who missed court dates in May and August due to poor health, appeared in the Boksburg Magistrates Court despite being ill again.
Last year Hewitt was charged with raping a girl under the age of 16 in 1981 in Sun City. Hewitt was also charged with raping another girl under 16 in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, in 1982. A third charge of sexual assault of a girl under18 in Boksburg in 1994 was also added.
Hewitt, who won 15 Grand Slam doubles titles and lives in Addo in the Eastern Cape, was indefinitely suspended from the International Tennis Hall of Fame last year because of the allegations.
He however denies all the charges.
The trial date was set to start on February 9 to 20 next year.
Operations manager for Women and Men against Child Abuse Tania Otto labeled the previous postponements of the case due to poor health as "delay tactics" and said on Friday that she was pleased that the matter was finally gaining momentum.
