EFF wants its members to ‘do important political work’ rather than go to court

04 August 2015 - 10:30 By RDM News Wire

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said it was grateful for Monday’s show of camraderie for the commander-in-chief (CIC)‚ but urged supporters not to go to court. “The EFF would like to extend its revolutionary gratitude to all fighters for the support they have shown…Julius Malema during his trial‚” the party said in statement.“We would like to echo the request of the CIC Julius Malema that fighters must indeed not go to the court from tomorrow but focus on the important political work of the EFF.“Members of Parliament and provincial legislatures must go back to work and ensure that the more than one-million voters of EFF are properly represented.”Malema on Monday vowed that not even sickness or death will stop him from getting his day in court."Let me have my day in court. Let South Africa know why I'm persecuted‚" he pleaded.He was speaking after the National Prosecuting Authority asked for a postponement of his trial on fraud charges following the awarding of tenders to a company linked to him by the Limpopo transport department."Let me speak for myself. Everybody else has accused me of wrongdoing. Let my side of the story be heard because it's important for me to tell my side of the story‚" he said."The NPA has been trying to use postponements‚ including today."The trial was set to begin in Polokwane on Monday.“I do want any postponement because I am not scared. Let me die for my sins. Let me be prosecuted and arrested for my sins. Because I know my conscience is clean‚” he said.Malema's Ratanang family trust is said to have benefited from the irregular awarding of the tender to On Point Engineering.Earlier on Monday‚ EFF protesters gathered at the court following an all-night vigil. Security around the court building was tight‚ with several streets in the provincial capital cordoned off with barbed wire.The court is expected to decide on Tuesday whether Malema will be granted a separate trial after it emerged that one of his co-accused Kagisho Dichabe is in hospital.Malema‚ together with co-accused Lesiba Gwangwa‚ appeared briefly in court after Dichabe's defence lawyer announced that his client had fallen ill and had been admitted to hospital last month.After the brief appearance‚ Malema told his supporters that he had waited for his day in court for too long and had requested a separate trial.“This dark cloud has to be resolved. And therefore any form of sickness or death or any other material condition should never prevent me from having my day in court. I plead with the judge and the national prosecuting authority. You have accused me for too long‚ let me have my day in court‚” he said to loud cheers.Malema and On-Point Engineering directors Gwangwa and Dichabe stand accused of misrepresenting themselves to the Limpopo roads and transport department resulting in the company being awarded a R52-million tender.It is also alleged that Malema's Ratanang Family Trust was an indirect shareholder in the company and that he benefited from the contract.Malema is also accused of having bought himself a car and a farm with the money received from that deal. ..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.