By Our Reporter
A South African court has sentenced Julius Malema to five years in prison for unlawfully firing a gun during a political rally in 2018.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday by the East London Regional Magistrate Court, six months after Malema was convicted on multiple charges, including unlawful possession of ammunition, reckless endangerment, and discharging a firearm in a public space.
While delivering the sentence, Magistrate Twanet Olivier dismissed the defence’s claim that the gunfire was merely celebratory. She ruled that the act was deliberate and carefully planned, noting that it posed a serious risk to public safety.
Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, had fired live rounds into the air during the party’s fifth anniversary event in 2018. The court held that he was fully aware of the dangers associated with his actions but chose to proceed.
The magistrate emphasised that such conduct could not be justified under any circumstances, regardless of the occasion, adding that the celebratory nature of the event did not diminish the severity of the offence.
The five-year sentence may have major political consequences for the 45-year-old, as South African law could disqualify him from holding parliamentary office due to the length of the prison term.
The ruling is considered a significant setback for the Economic Freedom Fighters, which enjoys strong support among young South Africans, particularly those dissatisfied with ongoing economic inequality since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Malema’s legal team has indicated that it will appeal the judgment, leaving open the possibility that a higher court could overturn the sentence.