South Africa opposition leader Julius Malema sentenced to 5-year in prison following gun charges

Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison by a South African court for illegally firing a firearm during a political rally.

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The Economic Freedom Fighters leader was convicted over a 2018 incident in which he discharged a semi-automatic rifle into the air during the party’s fifth anniversary celebrations in the Eastern Cape.

Delivering the ruling in East London, Magistrate Twanet Olivier said Malema had deliberately violated firearm laws. “It wasn’t… an impulsive act. It was the event of the evening,” she stated, rejecting arguments that the action was spontaneous.

Malema had been found guilty last year on multiple charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a weapon in a public space, and reckless endangerment. In his defence, he claimed the firearm was not his and said he fired the shots to energise the crowd.

His lawyer has immediately filed an appeal, preventing his immediate imprisonment while legal proceedings continue. The length of the sentence could also have political implications, including the possibility of disqualification from holding public office.

Hundreds of supporters, many dressed in the EFF’s signature red attire, gathered outside the court during sentencing in what has been described as a politically charged case. Following the conviction, Malema remained defiant, telling supporters: “Going to prison or death is a badge of honour. We cannot be scared of prison [or] to die for the revolution.”

A former youth leader of the African National Congress, Malema founded the EFF after his expulsion from the ruling party. Known for his outspoken and radical political stance, he has been a prominent figure in South African politics, particularly advocating for land reform and economic redistribution.

The case was initially brought forward by Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum after video footage of the incident circulated online.