South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after a court found him guilty of unlawfully possessing and firing a firearm during a political gathering.
The Economic Freedom Fighters leader was sentenced on Thursday by Magistrate Twanet Olivier following a case linked to a 2018 rally held at a stadium in the Eastern Cape.
Malema, one of the country’s most recognisable political figures, had been convicted last year on multiple charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition as well as discharging a weapon in a public setting. Prosecutors argued that the incident posed a serious public safety risk.
During proceedings, the court rejected Malema’s defence that the firearm used at the rally was a toy and that the shots were purely celebratory. The magistrate ruled that the act was deliberate and formed a central part of the event rather than a spontaneous moment.
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The court imposed a five-year prison sentence for unlawful firearm possession and an additional two-year term for possession of ammunition. The sentences will run concurrently. Malema was also fined on several related charges, including firing a weapon in a built-up area, with alternative jail time should the fines not be paid.
Within minutes of the ruling, Malema’s legal team filed an application for leave to appeal the sentence, which was granted by the court, allowing the opposition leader to challenge the decision in a higher court.
Outside the courthouse in KuGompo City, formerly known as East London, hundreds of EFF supporters gathered in anticipation of the judgment. Many party members have described the prosecution as politically motivated, accusing authorities of targeting their outspoken leader.
However, the magistrate emphasised that the case was not directed at any political organisation but at an individual found guilty under criminal law.
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