South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been handed a five-year prison sentence after a court found him guilty of illegally possessing and firing a weapon in public.
His legal team has indicated plans to immediately appeal the ruling in an effort to prevent the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader from being taken into custody. The conviction could also impact his parliamentary seat, as it may lead to his disqualification as a Member of Parliament.
Malema appeared calm in court as the judgment was delivered, maintaining a composed demeanor while dressed in formal attire.
The ruling stems from a case linked to a 2018 incident during the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebration in the Eastern Cape, where a video showed him firing multiple shots into the air with a semi-automatic rifle.
He was previously convicted on several charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a weapon in a public space, and reckless conduct.
In his defence, Malema argued that the firearm was not his and claimed he fired the shots to excite the crowd, according to reports by SowetanLIVE.
After the initial guilty verdict last October, Malema addressed supporters outside the court in East London, declaring that he was not afraid of imprisonment or death, which he described as part of the struggle.
He also vowed to challenge the ruling through higher courts, including the Constitutional Court.
The case was brought forward by AfriForum, following widespread circulation of the video showing the incident.
- BBC