EFF head Julius Malema’s legal team will pin its defence on questioning the authenticity of a viral video apparently showing the firebrand leader discharging an automatic rifle during the party’s fifth anniversary rally in Mdantsane in 2018.

A Daily Dispatch report says his trial will resume from 23 to 27 August in the East London Regional Court.

Malema’s legal team said they would be attacking what they claimed were ‘many faults in the video’ and that the EFF leader was a victim of legal persecution.

Malema, together with his co-accused Gerhardus Adriaan Snyman, made a brief 15-minute court appearance before East London Regional Magistrate Twanett Olivier.

Malema will be charged with firing an automatic rifle in public during the EFF’s fifth birthday celebration rally at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.

He has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area or public place and reckless endangerment to people and property.

Snyman, whom the state charges handed Malema the alleged firearm, faces two charges of failing to take reasonable precautions to avoid danger to persons or property and providing a firearm or ammunition to a person not allowed to possess it.

Snyman is believed to be part of the company that provided security for the rally.

Malema’s Gauteng-based attorney, Wikus Steyl, of Ian Levitt Attorneys, said that the charges were trumped up to discredit Malema politically.

Steyl said: ‘All parties are ready for this trial. We are looking forward to disproving the state and showing that this case has been a witch-hunt.’

'We are going to contradict the state’s evidence and show that our client is innocent. But I cannot tell you now how we are going to contradict the state’s case as that is part of our strategy going to trial.’

According to the Daily Dispatch report, Steyl said both Malema and Snyman’s legal teams would meet soon to finalise their case strategy.

He said two senior and experienced counsels, including renowned Eastern Cape Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, will join the defence team when the trial resumes.

Full Daily Dispatch report