Malema ‘land grab’ case postponed

NEWCASTLE — Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema’s case in the Newcastle Magistrate's Court, over calls he made to supporters to invade unoccupied land, has been postponed to October.

Prosecutors asked that the case be heard on October 13, pending Malema’s legal challenge over the constitutionality of the 1956 Riotous Assemblies Act, the EFF tweeted yesterday.

After court adjourned, Malema again called for his supporters to occupy land, as a white magistrate "could never understand" the pain of the land issue.

"Nothing is more painful than having to explain the land struggle to a white magistrate. No white people will ever understand that," the party quoted Malema as saying after the postponement.

"Please go on a occupy the land (sic). This land struggle has led to many blacks having a place they call a home."

In 2016, Malema was charged twice for contravening the Riotous Assemblies Act over comments he made to supporters in Newcastle and Bloemfontein.

He has since also been charged under common law for the same matter, which goes on trial in July.

The EFF leader in 2014 told supporters that they should occupy unoccupied land, because they needed it in order to eat and work.

"If there is unoccupied land, we will go and occupy the land… you must go and do the same," Malema said to EFF supporters.

The EFF has always maintained that the charges against Malema were a waste of time, and an attempt to keep the party distracted from honouring its political programme.

Meanwhile, Malema says former African National Congress presidents Kgalema Motlanthe and Thabo Mbeki should not share a stage with “apartheid criminal” FW de Klerk.

Malema was speaking yesterday after the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court postponed his “land grabs” case to October 13.

“I saw today that Mbeki and Motlanthe are meeting with De Klerk saying they are finding solutions to SA,” the party quoted Malema on Twitter during his speech outside the court.

“That’s a problem because . . . by recognising De Klerk, Mbeki and Motlanthe make a mistake that will lead to white racists thinking they still have a place in SA.

“The inability of ANC to punish apartheid criminals like De Klerk is why white racists are still proud among us.”

He said De Klerk can never find solutions to democratic SA because he presided over the mass murder of black people during apartheid.

The three former presidents along with seven national foundations shared a stage yesterday to kick off a national dialogues initiative on the multiple crises currently facing the country.

Former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was also participating.

Malema also used the platform once again to tear into President Jacob Zuma and white monopoly capital.

“ANC is in the business of pleasing white people. They do everything to please whites.”