Julius Malema Condemns Gun Charge Case's 'Sponsored Judgment' Ruling

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema passionately addressed a crowd of supporters in East London on Thursday, where he expressed deep unrest about the ruling on his firearm case. Malema went on record, dubbing Magistrate Twanett Olivier’s judgment as a ‘sponsored judgment’ in his ongoing firearm case.

The case, which dates back to 2018, involves allegations of Malema illegally discharging a firearm in public. Magistrate Olivier denied Malema’s application for the case to be dismissed. Malema, critical of Olivier’s ways of conducting court procedures, labelled her as being corrupt and incompetent.

Adding fuel to fire, he accused the Magistrate of adjourning court proceedings to receive supposed calls from notable South African figures such as Pravin Gordhan and Cyril Ramaphosa among others. Malema expressed outrage at what he perceived as Olivier's lack of independence in her judgement terming them 'sponsored'.

This is not the end of the road for Malema, who is facing five charges, including the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public space, and reckless endangerment to person or property. His bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, also faces two charges under the Firearms Control Act.

The charges were presented following a controversial incident in 2018, where Malema was caught on camera allegedly firing what seemed to be an automatic assault rifle during the EFF’s fifth birthday celebrations at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane. Both Malema and Snyman have pleaded not guilty to all charges.