Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema arrived at the Polokwane High Court to face charges of fraud, corruption, money-laundering, and racketeering.
Malema is accused of having made nearly R4 million from corrupt activities. He is out on bail of R10 000.
He will appear with his business associates Kagisho Dichabe, Lesiba Gwangwa, Helen Moreroa and Makgetsi Manthata, who were granted bail of R40,000 each on September 25.
They are appearing in the high court building as the magistrate's court was gutted by fire last year, nearly a month after their first appearance.
The State alleges Malema's associates misrepresented themselves to the Limpopo department of roads and transport, leading to a R52 million contract being awarded to one of them.
According to court papers the department paid R43m to On-Point Engineering, of which Gwangwa was a director. Malema's Ratanang Family Trust was an indirect shareholder in On-Point.
Malema allegedly benefited substantially from the payment, using the proceeds to buy a farm worth R3.9m and a R382,655 Mercedes-Benz, knowing the money formed part of the proceeds of crime.
He was accompanied to court on Tuesday by his confidante Jacob Lebogo, who is the former secretary of the African National Congress Youth League in Limpopo.
Also there were ANCYL spokeswoman Magdalene Moonsamy, members Roleta Lebelo and Josi Buthane, and controversial businessman Kenny Kunene.
Traffic was backed up in the Polokwane CBD ahead of Malema's appearance, with many streets to the court closed. Impatient drivers hooted and flashed their lights at one another.
"We are deploying sufficient police, but we don't foresee any threat," said Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.
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