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Malema orders MPs back to Parliament

EFF leader Julius Malema
Photo by Reuters
EFF leader Julius Malema

3rd August 2015

By: African News Agency

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Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema on Monday ordered his party’s MPs back to Parliament to hold President Jacob Zuma accountable, after his trial on fraud and money laundering charges was postponed in the high court in Polokwane for a day.

Addressing his supporters, including the party’s most senior leaders and MPs, outside court, Malema said he appreciated their sacrifices and support, but believed that MPs must go back to work, and ordinary members should do the same to focus on the party mandate – to strengthen EFF branches.

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“Because you have been with me, and because leaders of the EFF have abandoned their work to be with me and support me. I appreciate it all, but please don’t come from tomorrow,” he pleaded.

The optimistic Malema said the EFF should not suffer because of his “sins”.

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Malema said he had waited long enough for his day in court so he could clear his name.

The trial was postponed until Tuesday for the court to decide if it will endorse a separation of trial application.

The motion for a separate trial came after Malema’s co-accused Kagiso Dichabe was said to be hospitalised and was unfit to stand trial now.

Dichabe’s counsel submitted a medical certificate to the court, indicating that he was hospitalised on Friday and unable to attend the trial.

After the submission, the defence counsel and state agreed that the case should be postponed to Tuesday for a determination on whether an application for a separate trial would be granted.

Malema insisted party work should take precedence over his trial.

“Let me fight this battle. Let not EFF suffer because of me. I am here for six weeks. Go and do your work. Go and represent my people. Parliament needs you. Do not worry,” he said.

“I will fight this battle. It’s mine. I am an accused. I was accused long before the idea of the EFF emanated. Let EFF not inherit negativity because of my trial. This is the end of you coming to support me on my personal matter. Let me deal with them. I must not be seen using the masses of our people to fight my battles.”

Malema said the decision to ask supporters to let him face the trial alone was painful.

“I say don’t come not because I don’t appreciate your support. I say do so because I know that many of you go through pain to arrive here. Let me deal with that pain alone,” he said.

“Don’t come from tomorrow. Let Julius Malema deal with it from here. Representatives of Parliament, you are needed from tomorrow. You cannot abandon the mandate of 1.1-million people who voted for the EFF to come and support an individual. Whether Malema is there or not, when Zuma comes, you must represent us very well, because the EFF is not an organisation of an individual.”

Malema and his supporters have been doggedly gunning for Zuma – coining the slogan “pay back the money” – a reference to a recommendation by the Public Protector that Zuma be made to pay back a portion of the
R246-million rand used to effect upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.

The party’s MPs have consistently chanted the slogan during the President’s appearances in the National Assembly to answer parliamentary questions.

Zuma’s next question-and-answer session takes place on Thursday, and while new rules have been adopted which would see errant MPs forcibly removed from the NA, if necessary, the EFF have vowed to continue their efforts to compel answers on Nkandla from Zuma.

While EFF MPs will be in Parliament on Thursday to up the ante, Malema may well still be in court answering to the charges.

On Tuesday, Judge Billy Motlhe was expected to listen to both the state and defence advocates on the application to have the trials of Malema and his co-accused heard separately.

The fiery opposition leader and his two co-accused, On-Point Engineering directors Lesiba Gwangwa and Dichabe, face charges of racketeering and 52 other counts, including fraud.

In March 2014, corruption charges against Malema’s business associates Selbie Manthatha, his wife Helen Moreroa, and his brother Makgetsi Manthatha, were dismissed. The three were initially charged along with Malema, Gwangwa and Dichabe in September 2012. They were accused of misrepresenting themselves to the Limpopo roads and transport department, leading to a R52-million contract being awarded to On-Point Engineering.

In court papers, it was alleged that Malema had business ties with Gwangwa, and that Malema’s Ratanang Family Trust was an indirect shareholder in On-Point. The State alleged that Malema substantially benefited from the tender payment to On-Point, using it to buy a farm and a Mercedes-Benz. Malema is out on R10 000 bail. The others are on bail of R40 000 each.

Malema has maintained that the charges against him are politically motivated and form part of a plot against him by ruling African National Congress (ANC) leaders.

During his address outside court, Malema again took a swipe at the government, who have been accused of defying the courts, saying he was looking forward to telling “his side of the story” before a “neutral court”.

“All of us, when we are accused by the authorities, must respect the institutions of the state and subject ourselves to the rule of law. Because I’m not above the law, I came here to subject myself to the court of law.”

Malema said he would insist on a separate trial because could not longer wait to clear his name.

“I have never pretended not to want my day in court….I cannot wait any longer. This dark cloud has to be resolved and therefore any form of sickness or death or any other material condition should not prevent me of having my day in court.”

“I plead with the judge and with National Prosecuting authority, you have accused me for too long, let me have my day in court.”

If Malema is convicted, he would lose his seat in Parliament.

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