Land grab trial wastes state money – Malema
EFF leader Julius Malema has criticised the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for wasting state resources after he made a brief appearance in the dock at the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
He is accused of unlawfully and intentionally inciting and instigating EFF members to trespass and illegally occupy vacant land following an address on November 7 last year, in Newcastle‚ KwaZulu-Natal.
Malema’s trial was set down for two days but postponed to later in the week.
Malema is facing a similar charge in Bloemfontein in the Free State‚ but a new charge has been added to his legal woes.
“On November 7 2016‚ in Newcastle‚ Malema unlawfully and intentionally incited‚ instigated‚ commanded or procured his EFF and-or others to commit a crime‚ to wit‚ trespass‚ in contravention of Section 1 (1) of the Trespass Act 6 of 1959 by illegally occupying any vacant land wherever they found some and thereby committing the crime of incitement‚” the charge sheet says.
However, he is challenging the constitutionality of the Riotous Assemblies Act in Bloemfontein and Newcastle.
Addressing reporters and supporters outside court‚ Malema said that travelling from Polokwane to Newcastle repeatedly was wasting serious resources‚ which he didn’t have.
“The state doesn’t compensate me.
“A considerate person would consolidate these matters and not waste state resources. The prosecutor is not from here and stays in a luxurious hotel.”
Malema quipped that possibly the prosecutor had “other arrangements” that were not “work related” that brought him to the town for the numerous postponements.
“To come here for five minutes is a waste of time and resources. These resources could be spent fighting serious crime.”
He said he would be using the Freedom Charter to defend his statements.
“I will use Madiba and Tambo before and after [their] prison [terms] on the radical interpretation of the Freedom Charter.”
He said his team would file supplementary affidavits today or tomorrow. — TMG