Daily Dispatch

‘Bang-bang’ Malema

Juju feels the heat after opening fire at rally

- SIMTHANDIL­E FORD POLITICS REPORTERS

It looked like a gun, sounded like a gun, shot like a gun, but was it a gun?

The national police are investigat­ing EFF leader Julius Malema for dischargin­g what appears to be an automatic rifle at the party's fifth birthday celebratio­ns in Mdantsane last Sat- urday. A video, which has since gone viral on social media, shows the EFF leader taking what appears to be a firearm from a security officer before firing it into the sky at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.

The “gun” shots happened in the presence of about 30 police officers.

SAPS national spokespers­on Brigadier Vish Naidoo on Wednesday said the police were investigat­ing the incident.

“I can confirm that the SAPS registered a case of dischargin­g of a firearm in a built-up area.

“The due processes will follow,” said Naidoo.

According to the Firearms Control Act, it is an offence to discharge a firearm, an antique firearm or an air gun in a builtup area or any public place, without good reason to do so.

Naidoo would not say when they became aware of the incident or who had opened the case.

However, EFF spokespers­on Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said what Malema had discharged was in fact a simulator.

“It is not a real firearm and no real bullets were shot. It was a simulation, part of our entire act of celebratin­g the fifth anniversar­y. It coincided with the singing of the struggle songs and fireworks,” said Ndlozi.

The video was shot from the main stage, likely by a national EFF leader.

Also seen in the video is EFF national chairperso­n Dali Mpofu, who is seen smiling and in a jovial mood.

It is not a real firearm and no real bullets were shot ...

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 ?? Picture: MARK ANDREWS ?? RED ALERT: EFF commander-in-chief Julius Malema and leaders at the party’s birthday celebratio­n in Mdantsane on Saturday.
Picture: MARK ANDREWS RED ALERT: EFF commander-in-chief Julius Malema and leaders at the party’s birthday celebratio­n in Mdantsane on Saturday.

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