Malema prosecution a ‘witch-hunt’
Lawyers representing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has described the case against him as a witch-hunt.
Malema appeared at the East London regional court on Wednesday on charges related to the discharging of a firearm during a rally in the Eastern Cape last year.
Malema appeared along with co-accused and bodyguard Adriaan Snyman.
Malema is facing five charges, possession of firearm and ammunition, discharging f a firearm in a public space, failure to reasonable precaution to avoid danger to persons or proper and reckless endangerment of persons or property.
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Snyman is facing two charges, failure to take responsible precaution to avoid danger to person or property and providing firearm and ammunition to persons not allowed to possess said firearm.
The charges follow a video showing Malema firing a rifle while he was on a stage at an EFF rally last year.
EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi claimed at the time that Malema had fired a toy gun and not a high-powered automatic rifle.
Defence attorneys Wikus Steyl believes the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is wasting its time.
He says echoed Ndlozi's sentiments about it only being a toy gun.
"It wasn't a real gun. There were no real bullets. There's no real live ammunition. There's no transgression of the Firearm Control Act. It's a witch-hunt because of Mr Malema's profile.”