By: Natasha Archary

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema’s firearm case has been postponed to November for closing arguments.
This week, Malema and his bodyguard Adriaan Snyman took to the stands in the East London Magistrates Court, after failing in their bid in October 2023, 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.
Malema told Magistrate Twanett Olivier that the gun he held and discharged was a toy gun, and he demonstrated the toy rifle in court, handing it over to Olivier to hold and examine.
The EFF leader says the charges against him were racially motivated, with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) being forced to pursue the charges due to pressure from Afriforum.
“What happened here is an act of racism, so when Afriforum picked up an opportunity to persecute me, they made sure the matter is in a white prosecutor, the prosecutor was white, when they could not pass through with the white prosecutor, then they went to a coloured, but maintained a white magistrate.
It was very disappointing that the State had to surrender to the pressure of the Afriforum, the State must always act independently and must not be biased and should never favour, especially racist organisations like Afriforum.”
EFF leader Julius Malema
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— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) June 20, 2024
President and Commander In Chief @Julius_S_Malema engaging members of the media after testifying at the East London Magistrate’s Court today.
-It was very disappointing that the State had to surrender to the pressure of the Afriforum, the State must always act… pic.twitter.com/VX4lLTvxvk



