JUST IN: South African opposition leader Malema sentenced to five years in prison

A South African court has sentenced opposition politician Julius Malema to five years in prison after finding him guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging it in a public space.

The ruling was delivered in East London by Magistrate Twanet Olivier, who also noted that Malema’s conduct during the 2018 incident was not spontaneous, describing it as part of a planned event. Malema stood in court wearing a dark suit and red tie, showing little reaction as the sentence was read.

His legal team immediately filed an appeal, a move aimed at preventing his transfer to prison while the case continues. The sentence could also place his parliamentary position at risk, depending on how the appeal proceeds.

The conviction relates to a video from 2018 that showed Malema firing several shots into the air with a semi-automatic rifle during celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of his party in Eastern Cape province. He was later convicted on multiple counts, including illegal possession of ammunition and reckless endangerment.

During his defence, Malema argued that the firearm did not belong to him and said the shots were fired to energise the crowd at the event, according to local reporting at the time.

The case was initiated after a complaint by Afrikaner advocacy group AfriForum, following the circulation of the video online.

Malema, who leads the Economic Freedom Fighters, has built a political profile marked by sharp criticism of inequality and calls for land redistribution. After the verdict last year, he told supporters outside court that imprisonment or death would not deter him from his political stance, and confirmed plans to challenge the decision at the Constitutional Court.

Before founding the EFF, Malema led the youth wing of the African National Congress but was later expelled following internal disputes. Under his leadership, the EFF has grown into one of South Africa’s major opposition parties, securing fourth place in the 2024 elections.