The trial of a Brighton man accused of starting a fatal fire on South Africa's Table Mountain last year has been set for August, his lawyer said.

Anthony Cooper faces charges of arson and culpable homicide for allegedly throwing a lighted cigarette out of his car window on a hot, windy day in January 2005.

Jeannette Chesworth, 62, a British visitor, was killed by smoke inhalation and large tracts of the mountain were incinerated.

At Cooper's latest appearance in the Cape Town Regional Court, a trial date was set for August 22 and 23, defence attorney Joe Weeber said.

Cooper's trial has been postponed in different courts on numerous occasions.

In February it was delayed until April 17 because the prosecutor was absent because of an illness in the family.

"We are very happy that a trial date has been set and the case is reaching finalisation," Weeber said.

South African Broadcasting Corp radio news reported that the Cape Town municipal authority intends to pursue a civil claim against Cooper.

"That is news to me," said Weeber. "But they will only be able to do that if there is a conviction and I have doubts there will be one."