By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The East London Regional Court has postponed the firearm case against the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema until December 9.
Malema and co-accused, security company director Adriaan Snyman, face charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area, failure to take reasonable precautions regarding persons or property, and reckless endangerment.
The matter was postponed due to the ill health of Magistrate Twanet Olivier.
The proceedings had been scheduled for the presentation of closing arguments from both the state and the defence.
However the matter was deferred in the magistrate’s chambers by agreement, with neither Malema, Snyman, nor their legal teams present.
This postponement comes after the defence concluded its evidence in June, during which they called two expert witnesses specialising in firearm control and forensic ballistics to testify on Snyman’s behalf.
The case stems from an incident in 2018 at the EFF’s fifth birthday celebration at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.
Malema was caught on video discharging what appeared to be an automatic rifle.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, said Olivier postponed the matter in chambers in the absence of the accused persons and the defence.
Tyali said the firearm that Malema fired at an EFF rally in Mdantsane in 2018, belongs to a company where Synman is the director.