As judgment in the case against EFF leader Julius Malema and his bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, moves to day two, the party believes the case has been a waste of time.
Addressing supporters outside the East London magistrate’s court on Monday after the court adjourned, party secretary-general Marshall Dlamini said the state had no case and “you’ve wasted our time for the last seven years by coming to this court for useless things”.
“They didn’t have a case in 2018. They don’t have a case today and they know that,” Dlamini said.
The two men are facing charges related to a firearm discharged during the party’s birthday celebration at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.
Malema is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area or public place, reckless endangerment of people and property, and failing to take reasonable precautions to avoid danger to people or property.
Our president is a free president and is going to continue to lead us on the streets of SA, in the world and the diaspora.
Snyman, the EFF leader’s bodyguard, is charged with failing to take reasonable precautions to avoid danger to people or property, and providing a firearm or ammunition to someone not allowed to possess it.
Both men pleaded not guilty.
For the duration of the day’s proceedings, magistrate Twanet Olivier read the judgment, and by the end of the court’s time, was still on the version of the state witnesses.
The party’s brass sat in the packed gallery, while hundreds of party members who braved the cold weather sang outside the court.
Dlamini described the case as political persecution, opened against the accused by “AfriForum and the ANC”.
“The case is non-existent,” Dlamini said.
A case was opened against them after a viral video of the alleged incident made headlines in 2018.
“We have been here for seven years. We are nearing the end,” he said.
“She has been reading what was said by lying witnesses. She must finish and say what she wants to say.
“We are busy. We want the president to continue to do things that have to do with leading this country.
“We are coming back tomorrow and we are very patient because in the end we will defeat them as we have always defeated them. No-one is going to arrest our president.
“Our president is a free president and is going to continue to lead us on the streets of SA, in the world and the diaspora.
“There’s no political persecution that the ANC and the racists they are working with will slow down the EFF and the commander-in-chief.”
Dlamini said Malema would address party members on Tuesday, adding that “no-one will take him to another place”.
“When he leaves here the next place is Winnie Madikizela House in Gauteng to continue his work. There’s no other direction he is heading.
“This case is not just a case against the president, it’s a case against the EFF. They want to destroy this organisation,” he said.
“It’s about our organisation and we will defend it with everything and every means necessary.
“They must know that we remain peaceful, that the EFF is an organisation of love and peace, but when it comes to peace, we are peaceful to those who are peaceful to us.
“So we say to the racists and to the government that only when you are peaceful with us will we remain peaceful.”
Daily Dispatch
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