In Focus

EFF to appear in court over apartheid-era act

It’s a busy day in court for the EFF as the North Gauteng High Court will be hearing two separate applications involving the party.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is expected to approach the North Gauteng High Court to challenge the constitutional validity of the Riotous Assembly Act of 1956.

EFF leader Julius Malema launched the application – he currently faces two separate charges under the act in the Bloemfontein and Newcastle magistrates’ courts for encouraging his supporters to occupy vacant land.

Earlier this year, the party’s application to challenge the act’s constitutional relevance in a democratic South Africa was struck off the roll.

The EFF maintains that the piece of legislation is unconstitutional and must be abolished.

The EFF claims that the ANC-led government is intentionally supporting the act, in a politically-motivated move to oppress Malema.

“The ANC has used that apartheid era legislation to charge the EFF President and Commander-in-Chief, Julius Malema, for calling for the occupation of vacant land by the landless masses of our people. If the court agrees that the Riotous Assembly Act of 1956 is unconstitutional, then the charges currently pending in Bloemfontein and Newcastle will be dropped”, said spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

Another matter due to be heard in the same court, which is a joint application with other opposition parties, is to challenge former President Jacob Zuma’s application for leave to appeal a ruling which ordered him to be personally liable for the costs of reviewing former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s remedial action in the state of capture inquiry.

“Both of these cases have huge implications for the people of South Africa. They relate to the first and seventh non-negotiable pillars of the Economic Freedom Fighters: land and the call for a corrupt free government”, the EFF said.

Thabo Baloyi
t.baloyi@politicalanalysis.co.za