The National Prosecuting Authority has distanced itself form the delayed corruption and racketeering trial of EFF leader Julius Malema and his two co-accused, which was subsequently struck off the roll in the Polokwane High Court.
In a detailed statement released on Thursday, the NPA said it noted the decision by the court to strike the matter off the roll due to delays since 2012.
It says the matter was struck off the roll in terms of Section 342A of the Criminal Procedure Act.
The relevant sub-section empowers the court to strike a matter off the roll in circumstances where an accused has not pleaded to the charges and where the court believes that there has been unreasonable delay in finalising the matter.
The NPA says in this regard, the delay was not attributable to the State.
The NPA added that on July 29, three days before the trial date, the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shaun Abrahams, received representations from the legal teams for the accused, On Point Engineering (Pty) Ltd, Lesiba Gwangwa, Gwama Properties and Julius Malema to consider dropping all the charges against them.
