Malema believes in lawyer’s innocence
Mokwena given bail in farmworker shooting case
EFF leader Julius Malema believes his lawyer and friend Tumi Mokwena, who is accused of shooting and wounding four farm workers, is innocent.
Malema was at the Thabamoopo Magistrate’s Court in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, yesterday to attend Mokwena’s bail application proceedings.
Mokwena was granted R10 000 bail on condition that he stays away from the Zebediela Citrus Estate where the shooting incident took place and that he must not interfere with witnesses.
After the court announced its decision yesterday, Malema told the media that he believed Mokwena was innocent after he walked out of the court building alongside Mokwena and his mother.
“We believe that Mr Mokwena is innocent and it will be proven in court. We have full confidence in our judicial system,” Malema said.
He said he had met the leadership of the farmworkers, and would meet them again in order to understand their issues.
“It has been an unfortunate scene, especially a conflict that involves black brothers and sisters. We must learn the art of resolving whatever difficulties we come across in a very mature and peaceful way.”
Mokwena said he believed the courts would make a just decision.
“The overall feeling is that physical conflict is always un- fortunate. But I have an unflinching belief in our legal system, especially the judiciary, and I believe that ultimately the truth will come out.”
Provincial chairman of the Food and Allied Workers Union, Peter Mashishi, said they were disappointed with the court’s decision to grant Mokwena bail.
“Workers are in pain and at the hospital while he walks free,” Mashishi said. He said they hoped the workers would get justice in the end.
Mokwena told the court in an affidavit which was read out by his lawyer yesterday that he intended to plead not guilty.
It also emerged that Mokwena had opened charges against some of the farmworkers amid accusations that they violently attacked him on the day of the incident.
In the affidavit, Mokwena described how an angry mob of about 500 people who were wielding sticks, stones and axes threatened to kill him.
He said h e was forced to drive through the gate of the premises
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which had been barricaded to prevent him from leaving the farm. Mokwena, a previous administrator of the farm, was apparently there to attend a meeting that day.
He assured the court that he would not skip the country, as his house, family and law firm were all in Polokwane.
Four people were taken to a local hospital after sustaining various injuries.
Yesterday, the presiding magistrate said she was satisfied that it would be in the interests of justice to release Mokwena on bail. She said he had no previous convictions and that the state did not oppose the bail application.
Mokwena is expected back in court on August 25.