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Police cannot confirm whether Malema, Ndlozi vehicle had been accredited: Bronkhorst

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Proceedings in the assault case involving Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi have adjourned for the day and will continue on Wednesday at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.

The two are accused of assaulting a police officer at the funeral of struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 2018. The incident was caught on closed-circuit television cameras.

The state’s third witness Colonel James Bronkhorst was one of the officers who investigated the incident. During the cross-examination by Malema and Ndlozi’s legal representative Advocate Laurence Hodes, Bronkhorst conceded through an interpreter that almost three years since the incident, the police have still not verified whether the vehicle Malema and Ndlozi were travelling in had been accredited.

“That doubt still remains because nobody’s answered that unequivocally by saying this vehicle was or wasn’t authorised … I’m referring to the time that this happened.”

State witness says he kept a copy of CCTV footage of Malema, Ndlozi’s assault incident:

State witness in Malema and Ndlozi’s assault case has told the Randburg Magistrate’s Court that he kept a copy of the CCTV footage of the incident for himself.

Deon Klingbiel was the manager of the Fourways Memorial Cemetery in 2018 during the funeral of Madikizela-Mandela.

The pair pleaded not guilty to the charge, and have not taken the stand to give their version of events.

Malema and Ndlozi’s legal representative, Advocate Laurence Hodes questioned Klingbiel through an interpreter on why he did not mention in all his three statements to the police, that he made a copy for himself.

“So, you decide you are going to leave that fact out of your statement. But you have the secret little copy at home that you didn’t want to share with anybody else.”

Malema and Ndlozi in court on assault charges:

Drama

Last year, the court proceedings were marred by a lot of drama, including the banning of the media from streaming the event live after a cellphone of one of the camera operators rung during court proceedings.

State witness, Colonel Venter, took to the stand and detailed how he was assaulted by Ndlozi and Malema at Madikizela-Mandela’s funeral.

However, Malema and Ndlozi’s defence team told the court that Venter’s evidence was contradictory.

The CCTV footage of the incident showing the alleged assault of Venter by Malema and Ndlozi was played at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.

Employed at the Presidential Protection Unit, Venter told the court that both Ndlozi and Malema pushed him as he tried to explain that they couldn’t enter the cemetery using a vehicle, but only by foot.

VIDEO: Court appearance in October:

‘Unstoppable revolution’

Addressing his supporters outside court in the previous court appearance, Malema said, “We must never be threatened by racists who are trying everything in their power to undermine the unstoppable revolution. We want to thank you for coming out in your numbers.”

Supporters outside court at the previous appearance:

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