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Julius Malema will be coming at President Jacob Zuma with renewed vigour on Thursday, fresh from his victory in court.
Speaking to journalists after having his case, which had dragged on for three years, struck off the roll by the Polokwane High Court this afternoon, Malema said: “Zuma will know us better on Thursday.”
He was referring to this week’s session in Parliament, where Zuma was set to answer questions. The occasion had become synonymous with the “pay back the money” chant from Economic Freedom Fighters members of Parliament.
A statement by the EFF was released after the announcement. It read: “The state would have wished that commander-in-chief Julius Malema did not make it to Parliament this Thursday during the question session with Zuma. This is not going to happen any more because the full deployment of the EFF in Parliament, led by the commander, will be there to pose the question of the Public Protector’s report: When is Zuma going to pay back the money!”
Following his prolonged battle with the National Prosecuting Authority, Malema is elated that he can now be a free man without a dark cloud hanging over his head.
After the state opted not to apply for a separation of trials – which would have seen each of the three accused trialled individually – the presiding judge, Judge Billy Mothle found that he had no other option but to strike the case off the roll, given the fact that it had been going on for so long.
“The state may choose to reinstate the charges at any time but for now you are free,” he told Malema and his co-accused, Lesiba Gwangwa.
Malema told the media that he still believed that the case was politically motivated. He and his two co-accused were up for 55 charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering.
“The state has failed for a very long time to bring their case before court. And the judge said to them had they speeded up the trial and given the accused a chance to answer to allegations, we wouldn’t be where we are today. The state has never been ready with charges against me.
“There are no allegations, none whatsoever. But I know because we are dealing with dogs, they are going to manufacture something new. They are free to do that. Let them manufacture whatever charges against me. They will never win in a neutral court of law.”
Malema thanked the supporters and leadership of the EFF for their support, as well as his family, some of whom were in court today.
“We are more happy than words now that it is all over. We’ve been coming here for ages. We are so happy,” his aunt Annie Phaleng said.
