Malema threatens Judge President Mlambo


By Oliver Ngwenya    02-Oct-2014 07:17 UTC+02:00
Malema not pulling any legal punches. Image: SABC.

Malema not pulling any legal punches. Image: SABC.

The trial of the a Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema was postponed on Tuesday in a Polokwane high court. Malema and his two co-accused, Lesiba Gwangwa and Kagisho Dichabe face charges of racketeering and 52 other counts, including fraud. The two are directors of On-Point Engineering, a company in which Malema indirectly has shares. Requesting the postponement, the prosecutor, Advocate Andrew Laka put forward the reason for the postponement as being that there were some counselors that were not in attendance.

The main charges that are facing the commander in chief of the EFF are those of misrepresenting themselves to the Limpopo roads and transport department, leading to a R52-million contract being awarded to On-Point Engineering. The allegations that are facing Malema are that he benefitted from the payment made to On-Point Engineering, a company in which his Ratanang Family Trust indirectly holds shares.

It is further alledged that Malema used the money derived from this improper financial liaison to buy a farm and a Mercedes Benz. According to Judge Ephraim Makgoba, the case will be heard on August 3 in 2015. After the trial on Tuesday, Malema addressed his supporters, who were gathered outside the courtroom and had held a night vigil for him at a nearby hall that he was not afraid of the trial as he had nothing to hide. He said that he had informed the court to try him alone as he was ready and wanted the spaces to be wrapped up as “in yesterday”. He said that he had instructed his lawyer to request an earlier trial for him and had been informed that there was no earlier date.

Malema took the opportunity to take a swipe at the Gauteng Judge president, Dunstan Mlambo who he said was interfering in matters that involved the Economic Freedom Fighters. He had come prepared several examples including his own. He took the opportunity to inform the esteemed judge that he would write to the Judicial Service Commission regarding his conduct.


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