Road rage case against South Africa's Malema dropped
Police have now handed the case to the country's prosecution authority for formal closure.
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Assault and damage to property charges against South Africa s firebrand opposition politician Julius Malema have been dropped, police said Friday.
"The complainant decided to drop the case," police spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi, adding but "he doesn t give us any reason."
Malema was allegedly involved in a road rage incident late on Tuesday with a man who complained about how the politician was driving his S-Class Mercedes Benz.
During the alleged altercation three men got out of Malema s car to grab the man, then Malema himself was said to have got out and slapped the man in the face.
The alleged victim opened a case of assault and damage to property against Malema and three other men who had been in the vehicle.
Police have now handed the case to the country s prosecution authority for formal closure.
In an unrelated case, Malema is appearing in court on Friday for speeding after he was caught last year driving 215 kilometres (134 miles) an hour in an area with a speed limit of 120 kilometres per hour.
He also faces charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering for allegedly arranging lucrative government contracts for cronies in return for kickbacks while he was still in the ANC.
A court declared him provisionally insolvent earlier this month after he failed to submit tax returns between 2006 and 2010.
A one-time staunch supporter of President Jacob Zuma, Malema has maintained that his prosecution is a political ploy to silence his relentless criticism of Zuma s leadership.
His new left-leaning party the Economic Freedom Fighters will contest their first national elections on May 7.
