Prosecute me. My conscience is clean, says Malema
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has 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 said yesterday.He was speaking after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) 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 not 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 after 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, with co-accused Lesiba Gwangwa, appeared briefly in court after Dichabe's lawyer announced his client had fallen ill and was admitted to hospital last month.After the appearance, Malema told supporters he had waited for his day in court for too long and had requested a separate trial."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 are accused of misrepresenting themselves to the Limpopo roads and transport department, resulting in the company getting a R52-million tender. ..
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