South African opposition politician Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of the illegal possession of a firearm and discharging it in public.
Malema, who leads the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), is expected to appeal the ruling, according to his legal team, in a bid to prevent his immediate imprisonment. The conviction and sentence could also have significant political implications, potentially disqualifying the 45-year-old from serving as a Member of Parliament.
Dressed in a dark suit and red tie, Malema remained composed in court as the magistrate delivered the sentence.
The case stems from a 2018 incident during the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebrations in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, where a video surfaced showing Malema firing a semi-automatic rifle into the air. The footage quickly went viral, prompting legal action.
Last year, Malema was convicted on multiple counts, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a weapon in a public space, and reckless endangerment.
In his defence, Malema argued that the firearm did not belong to him and that he discharged it merely to energize the crowd, according to local media reports at the time.
Following his conviction in October, Malema addressed supporters outside a court in East London, declaring that imprisonment or even death would be “a badge of honour” in pursuit of what he described as a revolutionary cause.
“We cannot be scared of prison or of dying for the revolution. Whatever they want to do, they must know we will never retreat,” he said, while also vowing to challenge the ruling at the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
The prosecution was initiated after AfriForum, an Afrikaner lobby group known for its strained relationship with Malema and the EFF, filed a complaint when the video of the incident circulated widely online.
The appeal process is expected to determine whether Malema will serve the sentence or secure relief from higher courts, as the case continues to draw attention across South Africa’s political landscape.
