Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says the case of his firing a live weapon in public is nothing but a smear campaign by AfriForum.
Malema and his bodyguard Adriaan Snyman are on trial in the East London Magistrate’s Court on charges of firing a live weapon in public. Snyman is accused of handing him the weapon used at the celebration – which Malema and his defence claim was a toy.
Malema insists that his prosecution is a smear campaign by AfriForum, an NGO which mainly focuses on the interests of Afrikaners.
“This, I repeat, was a campaign by AfriForum. We are where we are because the National Prosecuting Authority, without any material evidence, succumbed to the pressure of AfriForum,” he told the court.
Speaking to the media outside the court, Malema repeated his sentiments.
“AfriForum is threatened by anyone who is advocating for a seat at the table for African people. Once you advocate a struggle for African people to be equal to the white man, you become the enemy of AfriForum.
“That is why at every turn when they get an opportunity to discredit the leadership of the EFF, they do so, even when they’ve got no evidence,” Malema said.
Malema said the state has no evidence against him. “He [the state prosecutor] should have retreated from this case if he was objective,” he said.
Malema told the court that the rifle from which the shots were fired was not given to him by his bodyguard, who is his co-accused in the case; instead it was Larry Mabunda who gave him the gun.
“In an extremely embarrassing manner, you see the prosecutor trying to place Adriaan, the white man, into the scene of the crime, and he fails dismally,” Malema said.
“As we enter the camera [view], it’s me and Larry following me. When I’m busy [firing shots] there, Larry Mabunda comes closer. When I’m about to turn back and hand over the firearm to him, the white man comes.”
“And he [the prosecutor] says, no, at that point the white man [Snyman] overtook Larry, and I say to him, ‘Play and stop the video where the white man is appearing’. He couldn’t.
“He couldn’t place the white man at the scene of the crime.”
Malema concluded his testimony on Thursday. He said Snyman opted not to take the stand because previous witnesses did not implicate him.
The case has been postponed so that the parties can submit written heads of arguments before the next court appearance on a date to be announced.
Pictured above: EFF leader Julius Malema taking the stand at the East London Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Source: EFF/X
