His arch-rival Boy Mamabolo, who is out on bail himself following a punch-up with Malema supporters on Wednesday, told City Press he would be shooting fireworks every night until Malema’s court appearance on Wednesday.

“We were shooting fireworks until late last night,” he said, “and when (Malema) appears in court we will have a motorcade past his grandmother’s house again.”

He said it was about time that Malema was charged with corruption and fraud.

“The money in this province is circulating among only a few people. If the economy disappears, jobs will disappear too. They use this money for parties every night, R200 000 a go, with girls, miniskirts and champagne,” he claimed.

Mamabolo said because Malema was no longer an ANC member, the charges against him could not be described as a political plot, as he had claimed.

Mamabolo was earlier this week involved in a brawl with the pro-Malema ANC Youth League Limpopo secretary Jacob Lebogo in Seshego, outside Polokwane.

Earlier in the day, Malema had cast his vote in a ward-13 by-election at Mponegele Primary School.

Malema’s rivals told City Press they were unhappy because he appeared to have enjoyed special treatment and protection from the police, which they claimed was unwarranted.

Meanwhile, those close to Malema claimed the arrest warrant was a “political conspiracy” by President Jacob Zuma.

Suspended youth league secretary Sindiso Magaqa yesterday said young people will protest Malema’s arrest and support him at court.

“If they want to arrest the president (Malema) they must arrest all of us.

“Young people, mine workers, we will be phoning all of them to say Julius was arrested because he represents the views of the working class. They (the state) can unleash the police, soldiers on us, we will go toe to toe with them,” he said.