A South African court has sentenced controversial opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in prison for unlawfully firing an assault rifle during a political rally eight years ago.
The judgment was delivered amid heightened political tension, as hundreds of supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), dressed in the party’s signature red attire, gathered outside the courthouse in East London.
Presiding Magistrate Twanet Olivier ruled that Malema had deliberately breached firearm regulations when he discharged the weapon into the air during an EFF celebration in 2018.
“It wasn’t an impulsive act,” the magistrate stated. “It was the event of the evening.”
She further emphasized that the action was premeditated and carried out with the knowledge and approval of both the accused and the party’s leadership.
Malema’s legal team argued that the gunshots were purely celebratory and not intended to cause harm. However, the court rejected the defense, underscoring the seriousness of firearm violations regardless of intent.
The ruling is expected to spark political reactions across South Africa, given Malema’s prominence and influence within opposition politics.