By A Correspondent- Firebrand South African opposition leader Julius Malema is facing arrest after an Eastern Cape court issued a warrant of arrest.

This comes after the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) failed to appear in the East London magistrates court on Monday morning. Malema was supposed to appear in court to answer to a charge related to the discharge of a firearm in a public space.

Malema is facing five different charges which include the unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment to a person or property after he discharged his rifle during a rally in Mdantsane back in 2018.

Commenting on the latest developments, Luxolo Tyali of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) to the Eye Witness News:

“As is standard practice when an accused person does not appear in court, a warrant of arrest was issued but that warrant won’t be effected until the next appearance. Their absence in court was an arrangement that was made prior to them having to come to court. They won’t be in court today.”

Malema is expected to be back in court on 8 May