A South African court has sentenced radical opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in prison after finding him guilty of firing an assault rifle during a political rally eight years ago.
The case stems from an incident at an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) event, where prosecutors said Malema discharged a firearm into the air while addressing supporters.
Malema, who leads the EFF and is one of the country’s most prominent opposition figures, was convicted in October of unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a weapon in a public space. He had pleaded not guilty, insisting the act was only symbolic and celebratory.
Delivering judgment in KuGompo City, formerly East London, the magistrate said the act was deliberate and not impulsive, stressing that it constituted a clear violation of firearm laws.
The court also emphasized that the case was about an individual and not a political party, rejecting arguments that the conviction was politically motivated.
The prosecution had pushed for a maximum sentence of 15 years, but the court imposed a five-year jail term instead.
Malema’s legal team has indicated plans to appeal the ruling.
The case was initiated following a complaint by AfriForum, a conservative group that has frequently clashed with Malema over his political rhetoric, including controversial liberation-era chants used at rallies.
