


Durban - The man who handed Julius Malema an assault rifle at a rally in East London which he then fired into the air has been identified as Adriaan Snyman, the owner of a Bluff security company who has been protecting the EFF leader since 2011.
Snyman is the owner of Tactical Security Services, which according to their website comprises of highly trained ex-police and military personnel.
Snyman and Malema’s relationship was first brought into the spotlight in 2011 when heavily-armed Tactical Security Services guards accompanied Malema - who was then president of the ANCYL - to his hate speech hearing at the Equality Court.
Malema was taken to the Equality Court by the AfriForum Youth after he sang the words "dubhula ibhunu" - "shoot the boer" - at a number of ANC Youth League gatherings.
Snyman, an Afrikaner, and his guards presence in court at the time - dressed in dark suits and red ties and armed with M14 semi-automatic weapons - caused the ire of Judge Colin Lamont who ordered them to be removed from court.