COURTS BEING USED TO 'PERSUADE' THOSE WITH 'DIFFERENT POLITICAL VIEW' - MALEMA

EAST LONDON - Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says the justice system is being used to fight politics.

The party leader iscurrently on trialfor illegal possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and three counts of contravening the Firearms Control act.

The charges relate to an incident where he allegedly fired a rifle at the EEF’s fifth anniversary celebrations in July 2018.

Malema addressed hissupportersoutside the East London Magistrates Court on Thursday.

"But because we hold a different political view, and they want to use the courts and the power they have to persuade us to agree with them. They are not using the political space and argument to persuade us, and that is an attempt to try and intimidate us."

The trial is set to continue on Friday.