The East London Regional Court has postponed the case against the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, to 29 September 2025 for Magistrate Twanet Olivier to deliver her judgment after both the state and the defence submitted their closing arguments on the merits of the case.
Malema and security company director, Adriaan Snyman are charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharge of a firearm in a built-up area failure to take reasonable precaution to person or property and reckless endangerment to person or property. The charges emanate from the 28 July 2018 EFF rally held in Mdantsane, during which Malema is alleged to have fired a riffle in the air.
The firearm that Malema allegedly fired at that event allegedly belongs to a company where Synman was the director. Last year, the prosecution closed its case, having led the evidence of 19 witnesses. Malema and Snyman subsequently made an application for a discharge, according to Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which was dismissed by the court.
The defence led the evidence of two expert witnesses, in firearms control and forensic ballistics, for Snyman. Malema took the stand in his defence. All the witnesses were cross-examined by Advocate Joel Cesar, for the state.
Based on the evidence and arguments meticulously presented by the prosecution, the NPA believes that it has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and hopes that the magistrate will convict the accused.
Commenting on the matter, NPA Regional Spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said,
“Based on the evidence and arguments meticulously presented by the prosecution, the NPA believes that it has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and hopes that the magistrate will convict the accused.”
