Cape Town – The leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, has criticised magistrate Twanett Olivier for her judgment in his ongoing firearm case, suggesting it was a “sponsored judgment”.
The case involved Malema and his bodyguard Adriaan Snyman, who faced charges related to discharging a firearm during an incident in 2018.
Malema accused Olivier of corruption and incompetence, particularly after she momentarily left the courtroom to retrieve her notes, which caused a delay.
“We want to come back here and to sit and listen to that incompetent magistrate who comes late to court, can’t get her papers in order, can’t read her own judgments, who adjourns the court during judgment to go back seat and receive Pravin Gordhan’s call, receive Ramaphosa’s call and receive Batohi’s call.
[WATCH] EFF leader Julius Malema accuses East London Magistrate Twanett Olivier of basing her judgments on political instructions. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/IDI7GJvxKd
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 19, 2023
“When she comes back to give her judgment, she’s shaking like hell because it’s not her judgment, it’s a sponsored judgment. Where have you heard such a thing that a magistrate leaves in the middle of a judgment to go behind the court and when she comes back, she’s shaking like a little girl in Grade 1 to give an English presentation in front of her classmates,” Malema said.
The incident in question occurred during the EFF’s fifth birthday celebrations in July 2018 when Malema allegedly fired a semi-automatic firearm.
Delivering her judgment on the application, Magistrate Twanet Olivier stated that Malema’s assertion that the firearm was a prop or a movie gun had no significant bearing on the case’s proceedings up to this point.
The EFF Leadership led by CIC @Julius_S_Malema outside East London Magistrates Court, after the disorganised Magistrate denied the application to dismiss the case
– We will be back in July 2024 and we will be victorious! pic.twitter.com/DiSPBFt49Z
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 19, 2023
“The mere say so that it was a movie gun does not make it so… it’s not evidence, the mere say so. In the light of the evidence that’s been presented so far, the application of discharge in terms of Section 174 of Act 51 of 1977 is not granted,” Olivier said.
Malema faces multiple charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in public, and reckless endangerment.
Malema and Snyman pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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Picture: X/@EFFSouthAfrica
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
