South African opposition leader Julius Malema was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday. The East London Magistrate’s Court found him guilty of illegal firearm possession and reckless public endangerment.
The sentencing follows a 2018 incident where Malema fired a semi-automatic rifle during a political rally. The court ruled the weapon was a live firearm rather than a theatrical prop.
Magistrate Twanet Olivier ordered the five-year and two-year prison terms to run concurrently. She emphasized that lawmakers must be held to the highest standards of legal and public accountability.
This five-year term exceeds the twelve-month threshold for parliamentary disqualification. Consequently, Malema risks losing his seat in the National Assembly if his pending legal appeals are eventually dismissed.
Defense lawyers immediately filed for leave to appeal both the conviction and sentence. Malema remains out of custody while the judicial process continues to move through the higher courts.
The Economic Freedom Fighters labeled the ruling a politically motivated attack. They maintain the case aims to destabilize their leadership ahead of upcoming legislative sessions and national political debates.
