A South African court has sentenced Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema to five years in prison for illegally firing a firearm during a political rally in 2018.
The ruling was delivered in East London on Thursday.
Magistrate Twanet Olivier found that Malema had deliberately violated firearm laws, rejecting claims that the discharge of a semi-automatic rifle into the air was spontaneous. She said the act formed part of the event’s proceedings and was not impulsive. Malema was previously convicted on multiple charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, reckless endangerment, and discharging a weapon in a public space.
During the trial, Malema argued that the firearm did not belong to him and said he fired it to energise supporters at the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebrations in the Eastern Cape. His legal team has since filed an appeal, meaning he will not be imprisoned immediately while the case is reviewed.
READ ALSO: Tems’ Leading Vibe Initiative Concludes South Africa Edition
The sentencing has sparked strong political reaction, with hundreds of EFF supporters gathering outside the court. Malema, a former ANC Youth League leader and founder of the EFF, has remained defiant, saying prison or death would be “a badge of honour” in pursuit of the party’s revolutionary ideals. The case was originally brought after video footage of the incident surfaced online
