Low-key court appearance for Juju
JULIUS MALEMA walked into the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court this morning without the support from the masses he has been used to.
He arrived in a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 8 that belongs to his long-time confidant and ANC Youth League Limpopo secretary Jacob Lebogo.
There was no night vigil and no sign of supporters being bused in from other parts of the province to support the expelled youth league president. Only a handful of sympathisers gathered outside the court.
“Down with the government of rapists, the government of murderers,” the youthful group shouted in support of Malema.
Malema faces racketeering and money laundering charges.
The charges relate to the controversial R52 million contract awarded to On-Point Engineering company by the Limpopo government. Malema owned shares in the company.
Malema’s appearance was brief with the defence and the prosecution agreeing that the case be postponed to June 20 for the State to decide on the new date for the High Court.
Sympathisers like Sello Secho, from Ga-Mphahlele village believe Malema was being prosecuted for dissenting against President Jacob Zuma’s leadership.
“He is being punished for not supporting Zuma prior to Mangaung. But he remains our president and he will bounce back,” Secho said.
Unlike Malema’s two previous appearances, provincial government leaders were not present in court to support him today.
He walked into the court flanked by Lebogo and regional youth leader Jossie Buthane.
Malema’s family, including his cousin, Tshepo, king of sushi, Kenny Kunene and Magdalene Moonsamy, the league’s former national spokeswoman were also present. Malema appeared alongside his co-accused, former business associate and director of On-Point Engineering, Lesiba Gwangwa.
Other co-accused in the dock were Kagisho Dichabe, another director of On-Point Engineering, businessman Selbie Mathatha, his wife, Helen Moreroa, and his brother, Makgetsi.
Malema’s other co-accused face multiple charges ranging from fraud, corruption, money laundering and racketeering.
After their arrival just before 9am, they were all made to wait for more than an hour before magistrate Janine Ungerer took up her seat.
While in the same dock, the accused hardly spoke to each other. The gallery was packed with members of the public.
The intersection of Ladross Mare Street and Thabo Mbeki Drive and other roads leading to the court vicinity were cordoned off with barbed wire. Police and emergency personnel had been on standby.
“We deployed members from the public order policing and we had the dog units and tactical response team,” said Limpopo police spokesman, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi. Malema was represented by his new lawyer, Tumi Mokwena.