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Malema walks out of court‚ wastes no time in making new land grab call

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema appears in court. Picture Credit: EFF South Africa
Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema appears in court. Picture Credit: EFF South Africa

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema‚ undeterred by an appearance in court for calling on people to occupy vacant land around the country‚ walked out of the courtroom and promptly made the same call again.

“The prosecution of people who are demanding the land affects us directly because we want the land‚ so the land must be returned to the hands of the people‚” said Malema.

He was addressing hundreds of EFF supporters after his appearance in the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court after being charged with contravention of the 1956 Riotous Assemblies Act. Malema was issued with a summons in October.

“When the state has failed to give you the land for the past 22 year‚ it will be irresponsible for me to say continue waiting‚ that’s why I say occupy the land because they [the government] have failed to give you the land. If it means going to prison for telling you to take the land‚ so be it‚” said Malema

The red berets leader’s charges relate to two incidents — the first dating back to when he was elected EFF president in Bloemfontein. The second case is from June 2016‚ when Malema told supporters in the northern KwaZulu-Natal town — as the party celebrated the 61st anniversary of the Freedom Charter — that white people can’t claim ownership of land because it belongs to the country’s black African majority.

“The country is still in the hands of the colonial masters. This country is still in the hands of the white people. This country is controlled from London [as] there still pieces of land here in KwaZulu Natal‚ Eastern Cape and other rural provinces who’s title deeds is still owned by the queen in London‚” said Malema.

The case against Malema was postponed on Monday to 7 December to allow for filing of an application against the Act.

Malema will approach the Constitutional Court to ask it to find the Riotous Assemblies Act unconstitutional.

During his brief appearance on Monday‚ his lawyer Tumi Mokwena asked for the matter to be postponed to allow Malema to file his ConCourt application.

The state agreed to the postponement on condition that Malema provides proof that he has filed the application.

If he provides proof‚ Malema will not be required to make his next appearance in the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court on December 7. He will have to appear again in court on May 5. — TMG Digital

 

 

 

 

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