Polokwane – The National Prosecuting Authority had no case against him, Economic Freedom Fighters leader (EFF) Julius Malema said after the Polokwane High Court struck his corruption trial off the court roll on Tuesday.
“The State wanted the court to grant a postponement because they are never ready. They do not have a case against me, they wanted a postponement after postponement so that I become a South African citizen with a dark cloud over my head…and the courts of South Africa are not meant for that, they are meant to ensure that everyone enjoys the rights as enshrined in the constitution of the republic.”
Malema, Lesiba Gwangwa and Kagiso Dichabe faced more than 50 charges of corruption and racketeering. Dichabe was absent from the court proceedings. The court heard on Tuesday that he was suffering from depression, and his defence counsel applied to have the matter postponed.
Malema intended asking asking that he be tried separately following Dichabe’s absence “to prevent the delay of justice.” The State opposed Malema’s application.
Delivering his judgmenet, Judge George Motlhe said that the trial was taking too long which prejudiced the accused who were in court and were ready to proceed. He ordered that the accused be refunded their bail money.
Afterwards the charges against him were struck off, Malema insisted that justice had been done as he addressed the media.
“The outcome of the court today means that at any time, the State can reinstate charges against me but I stand before you, an innocent man without a dark cloud over my head,” said Malema
He said the State has failed for a “very long time” to bring their case before court.
“The State has never been ready with charges against me, I was charged during the strike in the mines (Marikana) after I was expelled from the ANC (African National Congress) and charges against me was an attempt to silence me,” Malema said.
“They did that in 2012 till today they never brought any case against me before court.”
He said also thanked his grandmother and wife for the support.
Malema said his grandmother always insisted that he was innocent and he believed in her word.
The EFF leader also praised the country’s judiciary.
“The executive is no longer there, it is compromised, it is dead, the legislature in the form of Parliament is also compromised and no more, we are only left with the judiciary. The judiciary is the only leg of the State which is keeping this country together..without the judiciary, we would be a banana republic.”
The State alleges that Malema’s Ratanang Family Trust benefited from the irregular awarding of a tender to On Point Engineering.
Malema, Gwangwa and Dichabe were accused of irregularities and misrepresenting themselves to the Limpopo roads and transport department which saw the company being awarded a multi-million rand tender.
ANA