Leading South African opposition politician Julius Malema, 45, has been sentenced to five years after being found guilty of the illegal possession of a gun and firing it in public.
Magistrate Twanet Olivier allowed the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and MP to appeal against the sentencing, which means he was not immediately taken to prison.
While Malema stood in court wearing a dark suit and red tie, he showed little emotion as Olivier read out the sentence, even though his political future was at stake. Last year, he was convicted of five offences, including the unlawful possession of a firearm, discharging it in public, and reckless endangerment.
If his sentence is upheld, Malema would be disqualified from being an MP for five years. However, political analyst Sandile Swana noted that the appeals process was likely to take several years, allowing the EFF leader to continue his political career in the interim.
The charges stem from a 2018 incident in which a video emerged showing Malema firing a semi-automatic rifle into the air during the EFF's fifth anniversary celebrations in the Eastern Cape province. In court, Malema argued that he discharged the weapon in celebration.
During sentencing, Olivier mentioned that it was not an impulsive act but rather one that “was the event of the evening.” While Malema's political position did not influence her decision, his large following in South Africa called for accountability.
After the ruling, Malema alleged conspiracy against him, stating to his followers that the ruling was orchestrated to silence him. He claimed, “They are trying by all means to silence this voice. They will never win.”
Malema has a reputation as a charismatic and radical left-wing politician with a loyal supporter base. Hundreds attended to back him and sang revolutionary songs outside the court. When the appeal allowance was announced, their chants resonated, proclaiming solidarity in Xhosa, saying “sigoduka naye” or “we are leaving with him today.”
Known for his provocative rhetoric, Malema previously led the youth wing of the governing African National Congress but later founded the EFF after being expelled for his disagreements with then-President Jacob Zuma. Under his leadership, the EFF has criticized wealth inequality in South Africa and called for land redistribution to the black majority, posing a challenge to the ANC in terms of electoral support.
Historically, Malema's statements have frequently attracted legal scrutiny, including a past hate speech conviction and another incident where he incited violence, sparking further controversy around his calls for land seizure from white farmers and denouncements against 'white supremacy'.
