Malema and Ndlozi’s police officer assault trial postponed.

By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

The assault trial of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and party MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has been postponed by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.

This after it emerged that one of the instructing attorneys had Covid-19 symptoms. New court dates for the resumption of the trial were yet to be announced by the magistrate.

Malema and Ndlozi face charges of assault in connection with an incident that occurred at the funeral of struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 2018.

They are accused of assaulting police officer Lieutenant Colonel Johannes Jacobus Venter at the funeral at Fourways Memorial Park. The incident was caught on CCTV.

Malema and Ndlozi have pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault, and claimed that Venter attempted to bar them from entering the cemetery to bid farewell to the struggle icon.

During the last court appearance in October, Venter – who is attached to the Presidential Unit – took the witness stand with his motivation for opening the assault case against the pair being brought into question.

Venter in his evidence-in-chief told the court he had been tasked with access control that day, and that the alleged assault was prompted by his refusal to allow Malema’s vehicle entry to the cemetery.

This was line with an instruction he had been given not to permit anyone other than the family or the president to drive in without permission, Venter said.

Defence lawyer Laurence Hodes also previously argued that the vehicle Malema and Ndlozi were travelling in had the necessary permits to be in the area.

Hodes argued that it was, in fact, Venter who was the aggressor during a scuffle, using the video evidence submitted to the court to show that two constables who were at the scene held him back in a bid to calm him down.

EFF supporters have gathered outside the court to pledge their support for Malema and Ndlozi.

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