Corruption case against Malema dismissed

Malema, Dichabe and businessman Lesiba Gwangwa were up for 55 charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering. “The relevant sub-section empowers the court to strike a matter off the roll in circumstances where an accused has not pleaded to the charges and where the court believes that there has been unreasonable delay in finalising the matter”, the NPA said.

The judge ruled that the case should be “struck off” because of lengthy delays in bringing the accused to trial.

Mr Malema and his supporters have repeatedly dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, saying his prosecution is a punishment for accusing President Jacob Zuma of corruption.

A South African judge on Tuesday threw out a case in which Julius Malema, leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, had been charged with a broad array of offenses, including corruption. While Malema was “free to go”, the judge made no decision on the merit of the case, and has stated that the move should not be misinterpreted as an acquittal.

The decision provided Malema with a high-profile victory ahead of local elections in 2016, although Mothle warned him that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) may reinstate the charges in the future.

He said on Wednesday that if the state decides to reinstate charges, he is ready.

“I know because we are dealing with dogs they are going to manufacture something new”, Malema said outside court.

But for now Malema wants to continue with his work as a Parliamentarian.

Booted out of the ANC for sowing indiscipline three years ago, Malema went on to create the far-left EFF, which secured 25 parliamentary seats in the 2014 national elections, just months after its formation. He was expelled from the ANC in 2012, and resurrected his political career the following year by forming his new party, which calls for the nationalization of land and draws strong support from South Africa’s impoverished and disaffected youth.

In parliament, he once questioned Zuma himself about when the latter planned to repay some 246 million rand (roughly $19.5 million) worth of public funds used to upgrade his country estate.

Malema is expected to return to the issue at presidential questions on Thursday.