The trial of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, scheduled to resume this week in the East London Regional Court, has been postponed due to the reported ill health of the presiding magistrate.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the EFF confirmed the delay, noting that new trial dates have not yet been set.
The case stems from allegations that Malema discharged a firearm during the EFF’s 2018 birthday celebration at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane. Malema, alongside his bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, faces multiple charges related to the incident.
Malema is accused of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area or public place, reckless endangerment of people and property, and failing to take reasonable precautions to prevent danger. Snyman faces charges of failing to take reasonable precautions and providing a firearm or ammunition to an unauthorized individual.
Both Malema and Snyman pleaded not guilty to the charges when the trial began in 2022.
This case has drawn considerable public attention due to its high-profile nature and the broader scrutiny of Malema as a prominent political figure in South Africa. The trial’s outcome is expected to have significant implications, both legally and politically.