Court rules act was deliberate, not celebratory, as supporters rally outside and legal team moves to appeal

Julius Malema, South Africa’s outspoken left-wing opposition figure and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has been sentenced to five years in prison for unlawfully firing an assault rifle at a political rally eight years ago.

The ruling was delivered on Thursday by the East London Regional Court, drawing a large crowd of red-clad EFF supporters who gathered outside in solidarity.

Magistrate Twanet Olivier found that Malema had knowingly breached firearm laws when he discharged the weapon into the air during the 2018 event. Dismissing claims that the act was spontaneous or symbolic, the court held that it was a calculated highlight of the rally.

“It wasn’t an impulsive act — it was the event of the evening,” Olivier stated.

Malema’s defence team argued the gunshots were purely celebratory, but prosecutors had pushed for a harsher 15-year sentence. His lawyers have confirmed plans to challenge the verdict on appeal.

The case was initiated by AfriForum, a conservative advocacy group that has frequently clashed with Malema, particularly over his controversial rhetoric, including the anti-apartheid chant “Kill the Boer.”

The EFF condemned the prosecution as politically motivated, accusing authorities of targeting its leader for his outspoken stance. Party supporters have warned of possible protests if he is taken into custody.

However, the court made it clear that the case was strictly about individual accountability, stressing that Malema—not the EFF as a political party—was on trial.