The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has charged EFF leader Julius Malema for contravening the Riotous Assemblies Act through his calls to illegally occupy land in South Africa.

The EFF leader faces two charges relating to land-grabs – the first is based on comments made by Malema in 2014, when he told supporters that they should occupy lands in their respective branches.

“We are going to occupy the unoccupied land because we need the land. For us to eat‚ we must have the land. For us to work‚ we must have the land,” he said.

“I come from Seshego. If there is unoccupied land‚ we will go and occupy the land with my branch. You must go and do the same in the branch where you come from.”

The second charge relates to comments made in June 2016, in which he said that white people cannot hold any claim to land in South Africa, and that black people should not be ashamed of occupying the land illegally.

“So, if you see a piece of land and you like it, don’t apologise, go and occupy that land. That land belongs to us,” he told supporters.

The charges against Malema follow fraud charged being laid against finance minister Pravin Gordhan, which have sparked backlash against the NPA and president Jacob Zuma, who is seen as being the person pulling the prosecuting authority’s strings.

Malema earlier today held a press conference in which he continued his highly critical campaign against the president, who the EFF leader claims has been captured by commercial interests tied to the Gupta family.

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