After yesterday’s postponement in the long-running saga that is the fraud, corruption and money laundering charges against Julius Malema he was in fine voice. We covered some of his speech outside the Polokwane High Court HERE, as well as giving you a summation of the history of this case.

Well today he will be more boisterous than ever, given that his case has been struck from the roll. News24 reports:

“What this means, you are free to go,” said Judge George Mothle.

“Because you have not pleaded, the State may decide to reinstitute the matter. For now, you are free to go,” he said.

If you are unsure what ‘struck from the roll’ means we should perhaps elaborate:

Judge George Mothle stressed that the court had four ways to proceed before it.

The State requested a postponement to August 24 to allow accused number 5, Kagisho Dichabe, to recover from illness.

Alternatively, the State wanted to proceed with the trial despite Dichabe’s absence.

Judge George Mothle ruled that neither of those were options were possible. The trial had already been delayed since 2012, while also continuing trial with one of the accused absent would be inconsistent with the law.

The court could have granted that the trials be separated, but the State had not applied to separate the trials, and therefore could not rule on that.

It’s only option therefore, Mothle ruled, was to strike the matter off the roll.

The State can lay charges again at a later date.

The state may resummon the accused once they have their house in order, so whilst Juju will no doubt celebrate, the reprieve may be temporary.

[source:news24]