Marshall Dlamini was found guilty of assault. (O.J. Koloti/Gallo Images)
- EFF general secretary Marshall Dlamini was found guilty of assault and criminal damage in a 2019 incident involving a police officer.
- Dlamini claimed he was acting to protect Julius Malema from a perceived threat of assassination.
- Sentencing was adjourned to May 31 and Dlamini remains free on bail until then.
EFF general secretary and head of security Marshall Dlamini was found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and property damage for punching a police officer inside Parliament in February 2019. received.
In her judgment in the Cape Town District Court, Judge Nasha Banwari said Mr Dlamini's claim that he was protecting party leader Julius Malema from assassination threats was not acceptable.
On February 7, 2019, during a commotion in the lobby after the State of the Union address, he punched Johann Carstens in the face and broke his glasses.
Sentencing proceedings were adjourned to May 31.
Dlamini maintains his innocence and says he reacted that way because Malema had been under strict caution after receiving a tip that he would be assassinated by “poison injection” at the State of the Union address, and that he had met Carstens. He claimed that. Head to Malema.
The assault charge was for punching Carstens in the face, and the property damage charge was for breaking his glasses.
Mr Dlamini was on bail and quietly left after an adjournment date was announced.
injury
During the incident, Carstens suffered a 3cm cut on the bridge of his nose and one of his cheeks turned red.
Doctor Lynn Swartz, who testified at the assault trial, previously said that while treating Carstens, there was blood on the bridge of his nose, cheeks and collar.
She noticed a deep scratch on the bridge of his nose and redness around his right eye.
After the incident, the EFF said in a statement that the party had increased its vigilance in SONA after receiving information about a plot by right-wingers to assassinate Malema.
They believed a plot to kill him was set in motion when the scuffle broke out.
