[LISTEN] EFF: It was only a toy gun
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has rubbished reports that its leader Julius Malema discharged a rifle at its birthday celebrations at the weekend.
The party told Jacaranda FM that it was only a toy gun.
Video footage of what appears to be Malema firing from what looks like a real weapon has gone viral.
Here is the video, of Julius Malema mentioned in the previous tweet (lifted from Facebook) pic.twitter.com/xUm0LC5BxV
— S'thembile Cele (@SthembileCel) July 31, 2018
The red berets denied reports that he discharged a weapon during the party’s 5th birthday celebrations at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape.
ALSO READ: [WATCH] Police tight-lipped on Malema 'rifle shooting' video
“It was not a real gun, it was a simulation which collaborated with the fireworks. We use it, and we always do, to evoke both the celebrations and the memory of the struggle of our past as black people in South Africa,” said spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
The police's Vishnu Naidoo says a criminal case has been lodged.
"I can confirm that the SAPS registered a case of discharging of a firearm in a built up area."
The Black First Land First Movement (BLF) indicated that it will lay a criminal charge against the man who handed Malema the object.
“The irresponsible behaviour of the white gun man was calculated to cause harm to black people,” reads a statement.
If police find the object to be a real gun, it would be in contravention of the Firearms Control Act.