By: Natasha Archary

Julius Malema and his co-accused Adriaan Snyman have lost their bid to have gun charges against them dropped.
This after Magistrate Twanett Olivier dismissed Malema and Snyman’s application to have their case taken off the court roll due to lack of evidence.
The court proceedings were streamed live on the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) X page, and the two pleaded not guilty to the 6 charges against them relating to the violation of the Firearms Act.
Malema and Snyman launched their bid using Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, however, Magistrate Olivier said that the evidence brought forward by a police ballistics expert confirmed the firearm used in a viral shooting video belonged to Snyman or his company.
On 28 July 2018, Malema and his bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman were involved in a shooting incident during the EFF’s 5th birthday celebrations.
Malema allegedly fired the weapon which was reportedly handed to him by Snyman at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.
Snyman faces a charge for contravention of the Firearms Control Act, for failing to take reasonable precautions and not avoiding danger to a person’s property.
Meanwhile, Malema face charges for the unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and 3 charges for the contravention of the Firearms Control Act.
While the video does not show Snyman handing Malema the firearm, Magistrate Olivier said this technicality was irrelevant to the charges against him.
“The application for discharge in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 is not granted.
The charge is much wider, it is to supply unlawfully or in any other manner given possession of the firearm or ammunition to accused No.1 Malema.
So, the action of not seeing the handing over is not a requirement in terms of count no.6.
The cartridge that was picked up close to the stage after the incident is linked with microscopic ballistic analysis to the firearm allegedly used by accused No.l.”
The video was captured by a witness who submitted the video to the Cluster Communications officer for SAPS.
The trial will commence on 15 July 2024 after Malema suggested to the court that the date be moved to after the May 2024 general elections.
WATCH: The EFF livestream of Julius Malema and Adriaan Snyman’s bid to have gun charges dropped
CIC Julius Malema Appears In East London Magistrates Court. https://t.co/sEDNgiv1C5
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 19, 2023
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