Court Drama as Malema's Legal Team Discredits SAPS Investigator's Testimony

The legal team representing EFF leader, Julius Malema, and his bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, earlier today, launched a robust questioning session directed at the State's 14th witness, Dwayne Francis, a digital forensics investigator with the South African Police Service (SAPS). Specifically, the legal team sought clarification around a controversial video clip purportedly showing Malema firing a gun during the EFF's fifth-anniversary celebrations held in Mdantsane back in 2018.

Both Malema and Snyman are currently facing several charges tied to the incident depicted in the video. Advocate Laurence Hodes, serving as Malema's counsel, launched an aggressive challenge against Francis's recounting of how the video clip entered evidence. This included questioning the mechanics of how the footage was downloaded and where it originated.

Interestingly, during the intense court proceedings, Francis admitted a critical point - the videos involved were not recorded with the seized cellphone, which was submitted as evidence by the police.

Adding to the web of inconsistencies, Francis told the court that specific instructions from the device's owner and the investigating officer, Colonel Swartbooi, had been issued to download two particular videos, which, confusingly, were not mentioned in the original investigation report.

This revelation led to a telling exchange between Hodes and Francis, with the former asking, "At no stage do you report here that Colonel Swartbooi instructed you to download one particular WhatsApp video, do you agree with me?" to which Francis conceded, "It was two videos, your worship. I agree, your worship."