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The assault case of the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, and the party spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, will finally begin on October 13.
The two are accused of allegedly assaulting a police officer at the funeral of fighting icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 2018, and the incident was captured on CCTV.
Reports suggested that the fight between three senior EFF leaders and a police officer broke out after they were allegedly denied entry to Fourways Memorial Park, where the unconditional of the fight was buried.
In a statement, lobby group AfriForum said the trial date hearing was heard in the absence of Malema and Ndlozi at Randburg Magistrates Court on Monday morning.
AfriForum has been behind the concerted push for the National Tax Authority (NPA) to prosecute Malema and Ndlozi since July 2019.
The organization has welcomed the setting of a trial date, saying: “… it was believed from the outset that there was a prima facie case against Malema and Ndlozi.
“Following continued pressure from AfriForum, the NPA reconsidered its initial refusal to prosecute and instituted prosecution. Now the court must run its course and we will continue to support the police colonel, ”said defender Phyllis Vorster, who is a prosecutor in Afriforum.
ALSO READ: Malema and Ndlozi return to court for the case of assault on a police officer
“The high-ranking police officer lodged a complaint with the police, but received no attention until AfriForum’s private prosecution unit inquired about the investigation in January 2019,” the organization said.
According to Afriforum, an arrest warrant could not be issued in court on Monday after the prosecutor indicated that the original charge sheet could not be traced at this time.
“Both Malema and Ndlozi must also appear in court on September 14 so that an investigation into the suspension of the orders can serve in court, because they did not attend previous court proceedings due to Covid-19 regulations.”
READ MORE: If I had put my hand on him, I would have ‘hit’ him – Malema denies having attacked the policeman
AfriForum Executive Director Kallie Kriel said Malema and Ndlozi could try to delay justice, but could not continue to evade it.
His comments come after Malema’s legal team allegedly delayed the case by asking for a postponement because they wanted more time to study the CCTV footage and consult with witnesses.
Both Malema and Ndlozi had previously denied having assaulted the police officer.
“I’ve never done that. If I had laid my hand on him, I would have beaten him up. I don’t play when I lay a hand. I didn’t do that. Mbuyiseni didn’t do that. All we were fighting was to get into the cemetery and go to bury our mother, ”Malema said addressing a crowd outside the court.
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