Johannesburg - Expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema could be found guilty of inciting mine workers to violence, regardless of whether he influenced them, an expert has found.
Former University of South Africa criminal law lecturer Carel Snyman concluded that Malema did not have a valid defence to the charges of incitement.
Snyman was commissioned by trade union Solidarity to compile an expert view on the matter.
The union earlier filed criminal charges of incitement to violence and intimidation against Malema, following comments he made to striking mine workers urging them to make the mines “ungovernable”.
Solidarity deputy general secretary Dirk Hermann said on Friday that Snyman had found Malema did not have a valid defence.
“It is... immaterial whether or not the mine workers had in any way been influenced by Malema's utterances,” he said in a statement.
“Incitement to commit any crime is punishable. The definition of incitement does not distinguish between successful and unsuccessful incitement.”
Hermann said the report had been given to the Hawks to assist in their investigation of the charges against Malema. - Sapa