Adrian Snyman. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/Maroela Media)
Adriaan Snyman, former bodyguard of Julius Malema, is suing the state for R20 million in damages after he was initially prosecuted for alleged breaches of the Firearms Act but later acquitted.
Malema was this week sentenced to an effective five-year prison sentence for the incident in 2018 at the party’s fifth birthday celebrations.
In a video that was widely shared on social media and submitted to the court as evidence, Snyman can be seen passing the firearm to Malema on stage at the celebrations before the EFF leader fires it.
AfriForum subsequently lodged complaints against Malema.
Kirsten McLeod, Snyman’s spokesperson, said in an interview with the SABC this week that the state dropped the charges against him because there is no evidence against him.
“We are still waiting for a response from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the police regarding a written demand for payment of more than R20 million.”
McLeod says the claim is the result of a “malicious prosecution allegation.”
Julius Malema and Adriaan Snyman in court. (Archive photo: EFF/X)
“The 30-day period we gave the NPA and police to respond has now expired. We will soon take legal action and if they do not respond, we will apply for a default judgment,” said McLeod.
Snyman is the owner of a private security company that provided services to the EFF during the incident.
Empty cartridge cases were reportedly found at the stadium’s grounds after the festivities.
Snyman was acquitted in October last year. This after the state called 19 witnesses and closed its case. Malema and Snyman then applied for dismissal in terms of art. 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act filed. The court dismissed it.