The trial of both the Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema and his co-accused bodyguard Adriaan Snyman has been postponed to March next year.
The trial will sit between February 28 and March 4, 2022, at the East London Magistrate’s Court. This is due to the ill health of the prosecutor, Elna Smith.
Malema and his co-accused were charged following a video of the EFF leadership discharging what appeared to be an automatic rifle at the Economic Freedom Fighter’s fifth birthday celebrations in Mdantsane, in 2018.
Malema was charged with the illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition as well as contravention of the Firearms Control Act.
Snyman is only facing a charge of contravening the Firearms Control Act.
The EFF through its spokesperson Vuyani Pambo has always maintained that this is just a waste of time suggesting that those that are behind these charges are merely trying to derail their programs.
In August 2018, minority rights group AfriForum laid criminal charges against Malema for violating gun laws:
