Update: Malema and Ndlozi case postponed to the end of October

The case against EFF leader Julius Malema and MP Mbuyseni Ndlozi has been postponed to 28 and 29 October. The case failed to get underway as scheduled today, as it could not be decided whether or not media should be allowed to film inside the court room.

Hundreds of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters gathered outside of the Randburg Magistrates’ Court this morning in support of Malema and Ndlozi.

Malema and Ndlozi were to appear on charges of assault, following the alleged assault of a police officer at the funeral of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 2018.

Addressing a crowd of EFF supporters outside of court, Malema said that he was grateful to see such support, and stated that any allegations against him and members of his party stemmed from racism. 

He questioned the reasoning behind the assault charges suggesting that police officers get “pushed everyday” in the line of work they are in, and suggested that both sides acted emotionally during the day of the incident.

“If standing up to a white man makes me a thug, then I am a proud thug… A white man who suffers from white privilege thinks he cannot be pushed in the same way the police get pushed around all the time,” said Malema. 

He suggested that the police get pushed around regularly because they end up in situations where people get emotional at times, and they use rational thinking when these situations occur.

“I do not hate police officers and I actually fight for them,” said Malema.
Malema suggested that the person who opened the case against the EFF did not wish to appear on camera, and argued that the plaintiff should.

“A white man cannot appear on camera, but we must appear because to be black is criminal? We are not going to allow this, and this white man must appear on camera. We want to see his picture and we must make him famous. His picture must be circulated.” 

The Randburg Sun was live at the Randburg Magistrates Court where the EFF’s Julius Malema and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi were expected to appear in court facing charges of an alleged assault of a police Colonel in 2018.

Speaking outside of the court, for AfriForum, Ernst Roets said that he hoped that this case would highlight the fact that nobody is above the law. “Julius Malema, more than anyone else in this country, is acting as if he is above the law, and the way that the criminal justice system has treated him…, strengthens that perception that he can do whatever he wants. We hope that this case will be a starting point… to point out to him that he will be prosecuted and there will be consequences,” he said.

The Randburg Sun speaks to AfriForum’s Ernst Roets about the importance of today’s court proceedings:

This is a developing story. Updates will follow as they become available.

We must intensify the defense of the revolution and its revolutionary leadership without fail.

Fighters are here in support of the CIC @Julius_S_Malema.

Victory is certain. #HandsOffCiC pic.twitter.com/DOqcGt7bly

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 13, 2020