Source: BBC
Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malema, has been handed a five-year prison sentence after a South African court found him guilty of illegally possessing and discharging a firearm in public.
The ruling was delivered by Magistrate Twanet Olivier at a court in East London, where Malema appeared composed as the sentence was read.
The case stems from a 2018 incident in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, where Malema was captured on video firing multiple shots from what was identified as a semi-automatic rifle during his party’s fifth anniversary celebrations. The footage later circulated widely, triggering legal action.
In earlier proceedings concluded last year, Malema was convicted on several counts, including unlawful possession of a firearm, discharging a weapon in a public setting, and endangering public safety.
During the trial, Malema denied ownership of the weapon and argued that his actions were intended to energise supporters at the event. However, the court rejected this explanation.
In delivering the sentence, the magistrate indicated that the act was deliberate and formed a central part of the event rather than a spontaneous decision.
Following the judgment, Malema’s legal team swiftly filed an appeal in a bid to overturn the sentence and prevent his immediate incarceration.
The case has drawn significant public and political attention, given Malema’s role as a prominent opposition figure and sitting member of parliament in South Africa.