By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
EFF leader Julius Malema spend much of his 41st birthday in the East London Regional Court as his legal team fights several criminal charges he face relating to the Firearms Control Act.
Malema finds himself on the wrong side of the law after allegedly firing a semi-automatic rifle in front of a crowd attending the EFF’s fifth birthday celebrations at Sisa Dukashe Stadium on 28 July 2018.
He faces charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and three counts of contravening the Firearms Control Act.
His bodyguard Adriaan Snyman faces one count of contravening the Firearms Control Act and failure to take reasonable precautions to avoid danger to a person’s property.
Snyman is accused of handing the weapon to Malema.
Malema and Snyman both pleaded not guilty.
Former ANC Youth League deputy president Andile Lungisa was in the East London Regional Court on Thursday to support Malema in his rifle assault case.
Lungisa served as Malema’s deputy in the ANC Youth League between 2008 and 2011.
The firebrand leader turned 41 years old on Thursday.
Malema was born on the 3 March 1981 in Seshego, in Limpopo.
He was a former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) leader who vowed he would “kill for Zuma” and was expelled from the ruling party’s youth wing in February 2012.
Malema then launched his new political party the Economic Freedom Fighters in 2013.
The Commander in Chief and “revolutionary leader”, as he is referred to by the red berets, has deep aspirations to be the leader of South Africa before he retires.
The trial continues.