ANC out to gag me: Juju

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema attacked the ruling party and President Jacob Zuma again yesterday, referring to the party as the "apartheid ANC".

After appearing in the Polokwane High Court on charges of fraud, corruption, money-laundering and racketeering, Malema accused the ANC of trying to silence him by bringing fabricated charges against him.

"They accuse me of stealing because they are failing to match my thinking capacity," he told supporters outside the court.

"They thought arresting me would silence me . They are arresting me with the hope that nationalisation will die .

"They say we stole money in the department of roads and works - I have never worked there."

Malema said he was arrested despite a forensic team finding no evidence against him.

"I will never betray you. I did not steal from you. I will never steal from you. I will never do that to you," he told supporters.

"In my family, I don't have a history of criminals . there is no black sheep," he said.

Malema's supporters laughed as he ridiculed the police, the ANC, and President Jacob Zuma and his family.

His future now lies in the hands of National Prosecuting Authority head Mxolisi Nxasana, who is considering his application for the charges against him to be dropped.

Malema said of Nxasana: "This is a test to show that you are not a product of Nkandla and you are independent. We have confidence that you will take the decision in the interest of the country."

He believed Nxasana would concede that his case was politically motivated, Malema said.

Referring to about 2000 supporters as "my pillars of strength", Malema said he would never go to jail. Instead he would lead the toppling of the ANC government.

The prosecutors asked for more time to study Malema's application for the charges to be dropped. The court will reconvene on Thursday next week.

The fraud and corruption trial is to resume in September if the application to the National Prosecuting Authority fails.

Malema is accused of making nearly R4-million from corrupt activities.