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| South Africa's Julius Malema due in Limpopo court | South Africa's Julius Malema due in Limpopo court |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A large crowd has gathered outside a court in South Africa where firebrand politician Julius Malema is due to appear on corruption charges. | A large crowd has gathered outside a court in South Africa where firebrand politician Julius Malema is due to appear on corruption charges. |
| Long stretches of barbed wire have been put in place in the area surrounding the court in Polokwane, capital of his home state of Limpopo. | Long stretches of barbed wire have been put in place in the area surrounding the court in Polokwane, capital of his home state of Limpopo. |
| Mr Malema is accused of abusing his former position as head of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League. | |
| His supporters say the charges are politically motivated. | His supporters say the charges are politically motivated. |
| Chanting and dancing outside the court, many members of the ANC Youth League are holding up placards saying "Hands off our leader". | Chanting and dancing outside the court, many members of the ANC Youth League are holding up placards saying "Hands off our leader". |
| Mr Malema is currently inside the police station opposite. He will be transferred to the court later. | |
| There is a heavy police presence but the atmosphere is calm. | There is a heavy police presence but the atmosphere is calm. |
| Fiery rhetoric | Fiery rhetoric |
| Julius Malema and his business associates are accused of profiting from government contracts in Limpopo, an accusation which he strongly denies. | Julius Malema and his business associates are accused of profiting from government contracts in Limpopo, an accusation which he strongly denies. |
| The 31-year-old politician is also the subject of a separate tax investigation. | The 31-year-old politician is also the subject of a separate tax investigation. |
| He is well-known in South Africa for his fiery populist rhetoric and lavish lifestyle, describing himself as an economic freedom fighter. | He is well-known in South Africa for his fiery populist rhetoric and lavish lifestyle, describing himself as an economic freedom fighter. |
| Mr Malema was thrown out of the ANC in April, accused of sowing divisions in the party. | Mr Malema was thrown out of the ANC in April, accused of sowing divisions in the party. |
| He is a fierce critic of his former ally, Jacob Zuma, recently attacking the president over his handling of the Marikana miners' strikes. | He is a fierce critic of his former ally, Jacob Zuma, recently attacking the president over his handling of the Marikana miners' strikes. |
| According to the BBC's Africa correspondent Andrew Harding, some in South Africa believe he is being rushed to trial - less than a week after a warrant for his arrest was issued - in order to strengthen Mr Zuma's political position. | According to the BBC's Africa correspondent Andrew Harding, some in South Africa believe he is being rushed to trial - less than a week after a warrant for his arrest was issued - in order to strengthen Mr Zuma's political position. |
| It is likely to be a long court battle that may offer insights into the corruption that many people believe blights South Africa, our correspondent says. | It is likely to be a long court battle that may offer insights into the corruption that many people believe blights South Africa, our correspondent says. |