The KuGompo Regional Court in South Africa sentenced Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema to five years of direct imprisonment for the
The sentence stems from a 2018 incident at the party’s fifth-anniversary rally in Mdantsane, where Malema was filmed firing what appeared to be an assault rifle into the air before thousands of supporters.
While Malema argued throughout the trial that the weapon was a toy and the shots were merely celebratory, Magistrate Twanet Olivier rejected these claims, ruling that the act was a deliberate violation of the Firearms Control Act.
The court’s decision included a five-year term for unlawful possession of a firearm and a two-year term for the unlawful possession of ammunition, along with fines totalling R60,000 for additional counts such as reckless endangerment.
Despite the direct prison sentence, Malema did not go to jail immediately. The court granted him leave to appeal both the conviction and the sentence, which automatically suspended the execution of the prison term and extended his bail conditions pending the outcome in a higher court.
This legal development carries significant political weight as South Africa approaches local government elections.
Under the South African Constitution, a prison sentence of more than 12 months without the option of a fine disqualifies an individual from serving as a Member of Parliament.
While Malema remains in his seat during the appeal process, a final dismissal of his challenge could end his parliamentary career and alter the leadership landscape of the country’s fourth-largest political party.
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