Malema and Ndlozi’s assault hearing postponed under unusual circumstances

6 September 2021  

The hearing of Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, EFF MP, was postponed under unusual circumstances. Malema and Ndlozi should have appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court today for the alleged assault of the SAPS colonel Johannes Venter.

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit joined the case after it appeared that the case had been interfered in. During previous proceedings, the court not only heard that the original case docket had disappeared, but that the photo evidence had been tampered with.

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit was informed today upon arrival at the court that the accused’s legal team and the state had come to an agreement to postpone the case. None of the other concerned parties were informed of this. 

“This turn of events is extremely unusual and very disconcerting. I am convinced that the ordinary citizen would not have enjoyed the same priority treatment – especially not after a court had already determined the date of their reappearance. It seems that Malema is developing a habit of not appearing in court. He also failed to appear in East London on a charge of illegally firing a firearm, which AfriForum laid against him,” says Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Campaigns Manager.

“It appears that a postponement culture has taken hold in the criminal justice system. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit will continue to carefully monitor the case and to ensure that justice prevails,” says Adv. Gerrie Nel, Head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit.

The case will come up for trial again from 6 to 9 December.

Issued by Chanté Kelder, Media Relations Officer, AfriForum, 6 September 2021