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EFF leader Julius Malema and MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi say the common assault charge they face is part of a political agenda.
Malema and Ndlozi are on trial in the Randburg trial court, where each faces a common assault charge.
They are accused of assaulting police officer Johannes Jacobus Venter in 2018 at the funeral of fighting stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Fourways.
AfriForum had lobbied for them to be processed.
There was a large contingent of police and several EFF bailiffs controlling traffic outside the court. On Wednesday Malema and Ndlozi pleaded not guilty to the charge.
His lawyer, defender Laurence Hodes, said Malema and Ndlozi believed they had the right to enter the cemetery for Madikizela-Mandela’s burial and that their obstruction was illegal.
“They think there is a political agenda. They tried to approach the whistleblower as a sample of ubuntu but it was rejected, ”said Hodes.
The trial continues, with Venter taking the witness stand.
TimesLIVE
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