South Africa, Polokwane. (News Of The South) – The trial of 33 year old firebrand politician Julius Malema was on Tuesday suspended by a South African court pushing the high-profile case against the self-appointed graft-buster back by close to a year.
Leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters, Malema is facing charges of fraud, corruption, money-laundering and racketeering linked to a $5 million government contract won five years ago.
Malema rose to fame railing against graft in South African politics, insists the charges are part of “persecution” by his former allies, now foes, in the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
The trial, delayed for second time in under a year, was forced by the non-availability of a defence lawyer for one of Malema’s co-accused.
“The possibilities of an unfair trial are very high,” Malema charged, while adding: “We remain unshaken.”
Around 500 supporters, chanting “Hands Off Our Commander-in-Chief”, rallied outside the courthouse in the northern city of Polokwane, where police had erected razor-wire barricades to keep them at a distance.
“You have covered our backs,” Malema told his followers after leaving court, dressed in a dark grey suit, white shirt and red tie.
“The masses are never wrong, the masses can see through conspiracy, the masses can see persecution, the masses can see a political agenda that seeks to undermine the leadership of the revolution,” he shouted to a roar of approval from the crowd.
Malema’s supporters, many dressed in red berets and T-shirts and dancing to music in front of the tribunal, slammed the proceedings as politically motivated.
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