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S. African court postpones trial of opposition leader

Xinhua, August 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

Amid much fanfare, the Limpopo High Court on Monday postponed the corruption trial of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema.

The court said the trial was postponed because one of the co-accused was sick and could not come to court.

Malema expressed his disappointment with the postponement when he addressed his supporters outside the court.

The popular opposition leader is standing trial for corruption, money laundering, racketeering and 52 other counts, including fraud.

The state alleges that in 2009 a company called On-point Engineering was awarded a tender worth around five million U.S dollars by the Limpopo Department of Roads and Transport. The company allegedly used false information and documents to win the tender.

Malema's co-owned company Guilder Investment owns 33 percent of shares in the On-point Engineering. The state argues that Malema knew that the money received by One-Point Engineering was illegally obtained. Further allegations are that Malema's company and a family trust received kickbacks from companies that were contracted by On-point Engineering to provide the required service on behalf of the Limpopo Department of Roads and Transport.

"I was genuinely looking forward to this day in court. I have asked the judge to separate me from that accused and try me alone. I want to have my day in court and I cannot wait any longer.

"I plead with the judge and with the National Prosecuting Authority that you have accused me for too long. Let me have my day in court," said Malema.

He expressed confidence that after the trial he will walk scot-free.

He also urged his party's Members of Parliament to stop coming to court to support him and instead to go to Parliament and do the work they were elected to do.

The court is expected to resume on Tuesday and Malema's defence lawyer is expected to apply for a separate trial. The trial has been set for six weeks.

If found guilty, Malema will lose his seat in Parliament and that could end his political career. Malema and his co-accused are out on bail. Endit