Malema's firearm trial verdict postponed again
Julius Malema and his former bodyguard Adriaan Snyman will have to wait yet another day for the trigger to be pulled on their firearm trial, after the East London Magistrate’s Court once again ran out of time on Tuesday.
The pair, already two days into judgment, must now return on Wednesday as magistrate Twanet Olivier continues working through the long list of evidence before delivering her final decision.
Olivier spent much of Tuesday revisiting the state’s case and the defence’s rebuttals.
Olivier said the court has a duty to explain step by step how it reaches its ruling.
The process has stretched proceedings far longer than expected.
The charges date back to the EFF’s fifth birthday rally in Mdantsane in 2018.
Video footage presented to court showed Snyman handing Malema a rifle, which Malema then allegedly fired into the air before a packed crowd at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium.
Both men, who remain out on bail, deny charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, reckless endangerment, and contravening the Firearms Control Act.
Malema has dismissed the case as a political witch-hunt.
The courtroom was again filled with EFF supporters.
Judgment continues on Wednesday.
IOL News