Judges Matter Criticizes Julius Malema over Unsubstantiated Accusations towards a Magistrate

South African judiciary accountability organization 'Judges Matter' has slammed the comments made by Julius Malema, a Member of Parliament (MP) and the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), accusing Magistrate Twannie Olivier of corruption and incompetence. The organization argues that Malema's allegations, related to Olivier's ruling against his quest to dismiss his 2018 firearm discharge case, lack any basis for credibility.

Malema's remarks are being featured in a decidedly negative light by Judges Matter, with the institution's research and advocacy officer Mbekezeli Benjamin branding them as a blatant threat to judicial independence. “Such shocking and disappointing comments by Mr. Malema post court hearing, aimed at hundreds of his followers, accusing Magistrate Olivier of corruption and incompetency, is a flagrant defiance of judicial decorum," Benjamin elaborated. "His remarks are clearly intended to undermine both the magistrate and the judiciary as an institution.”

In the preceding week, East London Regional Court in the Eastern Cape rejected the applications lodged by Malema and his bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, to have the charges leveraged against them dismissed. The Magistrate, in her judgement, emphasized that the absence of eyewitnesses did not reduce the severity of the offence.