JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of illegal possession and discharge of a firearm in public, in a case stemming from a 2018 incident.
Malema, who leads the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was convicted after a video surfaced showing him firing a semi-automatic rifle during the party’s fifth anniversary celebrations in the Eastern Cape.
According to court findings, the footage showed Malema discharging several shots into the air in front of a crowd, an act deemed unlawful under South Africa’s firearms regulations.
Defence challenged in court
During the trial, Malema denied ownership of the weapon, arguing that he had only fired the shots to energise supporters at the rally.
He told the court the firearm was not his and that he discharged it “to rouse the crowd,” according to SowetanLIVE.
Prosecutors, however, maintained that the act posed a danger to public safety and violated strict gun control laws.
Political implications
The sentencing marks a significant development for one of South Africa’s most prominent and outspoken opposition figures, known for his populist rhetoric and influence among young voters.
Legal analysts say the ruling underscores the country’s enforcement of firearm laws regardless of political status, though it is expected to spark debate among supporters and critics alike.
Background to the case
The incident occurred during a high-profile EFF event in the Eastern Cape, where Malema addressed thousands of supporters as the party marked five years since its founding.
The video, widely circulated on social media at the time, prompted an investigation and eventual prosecution that has now culminated in the court’s ruling.
Malema is expected to appeal the sentence, according to local media reports.
