the constitutional right to a fair trial within a reasonable period of time. unlike former president jacob zuma, malema has not attempted to delay his trial through legal shenanigans. he has consistently asked the npa to expedite his hearing. by august, it would have taken the npa another three years to decide whether to reinstate the charges. malema has denied receiving bribes through his family trust and has alleged that the npa, through its former acting head nomgcobo jiba in cahoots with former justice minister jeff radebe, took a political decision to charge him to deter his political ambitions. malema, through his lawyers, will probably put up this argument if and when his trial starts. understandably, malema would not want to be an accused in a corruption trial when he and his party are on the campaign trail for the 2019 general election. this is a make--or--break election for the eff, one which will show if the party can lift itself beyond the seven percent support mark. apart from racial rhetoric and radical land expropriation, anti--corruption has been a pillar of the