Gauteng – The Randburg magistrate’s court found the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and Member of Parliament Mbuyiseni Ndlozi not guilty of assault on a police officer on Thursday.
CIC Julius Malema At Randburg Magisttates Court To Receive Judgement On Alleged Assault At Winnie Mandela’s Funeral https://t.co/LahZt8IbXD
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) September 29, 2022
According to Daily Maverick, the case began four years ago, when Lieutenant-Colonel Johannes Jacobus Venter brought charges against the two EFF members for assaulting him during the funeral of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Fourways on April 14, 2018.
After being found not guilty, Malema addressed his supporters saying that they had defeated “white supremacy” and “racism”.
“We want to thank the leadership of the EFF for believing in us and for knowing that we are not crazy who go around beating up people without any justification,” Malema said.
♦️Must Watch♦️
CIC @Julius_S_Malema outside the Randburg Magistrates Court addressing fighters, This comes after they were found #NotGuilty
– Once again we defeated Afriforum, we defeated white supremacy, we defeated racism#EFFDefeatsAfriforum pic.twitter.com/U1DVk7b9YV
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) September 29, 2022
“Today we demonstrated that we are always on the side of the law, we are on the side of the people,” he added.
♦️Must Watch♦️
CIC @Julius_S_Malema outside the Randburg Magistrates Court addressing fighters, This comes after they were found #NotGuilty
– Today we demonstrated that we are always on the side of the law, we are on the side of the people #EFFDefeatsAfriforum pic.twitter.com/pq8LNkGqZ5
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) September 29, 2022
According to a statement released by Afriforum, Reiner Duvenage, Campaign Officer for strategy and content at AfriForum said that Malema and Ndlozi not being held accountable pointed to the decay of the criminal justice system.
“AfriForum finds it strange that there is no mention in the judgement of the merits of the case that Colonel Venter protecting the senior leadership of the country and acting as guardian of the point of entry at Winnie Mandela’s funeral,” Duvenage said.
“The fact that two prominent politicians caught on camera attacking a SAPS colonel on duty and in uniform are not held accountable for their actions, points to the decay of the criminal justice system,” he added.
“In the face of this, AfriForum has no other option than to further expand and strengthen its safety structure, since the courts can no longer be relied on to ensure that justice is done,” he said.
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Picture: Twitter/ @EFFSouthAfrica
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
