Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of firearm-related offences stemming from a 2018 incident, with his legal team immediately filing an appeal to block his incarceration.
The sentence was issued by Magistrate Twanet Olivier at the East London Magistrate’s Court, where the court held that Malema’s actions were deliberate and posed a risk to public safety.
The case arose from footage recorded during celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of the Economic Freedom Fighters, where Malema was seen firing a semi-automatic rifle into the air.
He was convicted on multiple counts, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public place and reckless endangerment.
In court, Malema maintained that the weapon was not his and that the act was intended to excite supporters. However, the court rejected that defence, finding that the conduct went beyond symbolic action and created a real risk.
Delivering the sentence, the magistrate underscored that the act was not spontaneous but formed part of the event’s proceedings, reinforcing the seriousness of the offence.
Malema showed little visible reaction as the ruling was read, standing in court in a dark suit and red tie.
His lawyers promptly filed an appeal, a move that pauses the execution of the sentence and opens the way for the matter to be reviewed by higher courts. If upheld, the five-year term could affect his eligibility to continue serving as a Member of Parliament.
The prosecution followed a private complaint initiated by AfriForum after the video of the incident gained public attention.
Malema, who previously served as a youth leader in the African National Congress before founding the EFF, has indicated that he is prepared to pursue the case through the highest levels of the judiciary.
The appeal process now sets the stage for a prolonged legal battle, with significant implications for both his political standing and the enforcement of firearm laws in South Africa.
