By: Natasha Archary

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Leader, Julius Malema and his bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman are back in court for their firearm case.
In October 2023, Malema and his co-accused lost their bid to have the charges against them dropped.
Still maintaining their innocence, the two claim the firearm that Malema was said to have recklessly discharged at the EFF’s 5th birthday celebrations in 2018 was a toy.
The two pleaded not guilty to the 6 charges against them relating to the violation of the Firearms Act.
On 28 July 2018, 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.
Denying any wrongdoing, Malema said racism was at play in his firearm discharge case, citing that if people’s live were in danger they would not have continued to sing and dance after the shots from the “toy gun” was fired.
Malema showed Magistrate Twanett Olivier the toy gun at the East London Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 19 June, saying the entire scenario was all part of an act.
“There was no need, because no license is required, no permission is required, you’ve not led any evidence that suggests there was a need for a permission to be acquired before you use a toy gun.
Your worship, everything that required a permission of the JOC, went past the JOC and who is the witness for us here, it’s the JOC person who came here and said ‘they were the most compliant, disciplined people I’ve ever dealt with’, and had very good words to say about our Secretary General.”
Day 2 of Malema’s firearm case continues on Thursday, 20 June.
♦️In Pictures♦️
The President and Commander In Chief @Julius_S_Malema has taken the witness stand at the East London Magistrate’s Court.
Watch it live on all our social media platforms.#HandsOffCIC pic.twitter.com/41oEkI4fHe
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) June 20, 2024
Legal Expert, Mpumelelo Zikalala, joined Sizwe Dhlomo to reflect on EFF leader Julius Malema’s 2018 firearm discharge case. They touched on the definition and provisions of the Firearms Act and discussed the merits of the case concerning the act.
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