Dare Babalola
South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after a court found him guilty of unlawfully possessing a firearm and discharging it in a public setting.
Malema, who leads the Economic Freedom Fighters, is expected to challenge the ruling, with his legal team confirming plans to file an appeal immediately.
The move is aimed at preventing his immediate incarceration and could temporarily preserve his status as a serving member of parliament, which now faces uncertainty following the conviction.
The outspoken politician appeared calm as the sentence was delivered, maintaining a composed demeanour in court while dressed in a dark suit and red tie.
The judgment stems from an earlier ruling in which Malema was convicted on multiple counts, including illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a weapon in a public space, and reckless endangerment.
The case traces back to a 2018 incident during the party’s fifth anniversary rally in the Eastern Cape, where widely circulated footage showed him firing several shots into the air with a semi-automatic rifle.
In his defence during trial proceedings, Malema argued that the weapon did not belong to him and claimed his actions were intended to excite and energise supporters at the event.
Reacting after the initial guilty verdict last October, Malema struck a defiant tone while addressing supporters outside the court in East London.
“Going to prison or death is a badge of honour,” he said. “We cannot be scared of prison or to die for the revolution… we will never retreat.”
He also vowed to pursue the matter to the highest judicial level, indicating readiness to approach the Constitutional Court if necessary.
The prosecution was initiated by AfriForum, an Afrikaner advocacy organisation that has had longstanding disputes with Malema and his party.
The case gained traction after the video of the incident spread widely across social media, prompting legal action.
