South African opposition politician Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty over a 2018 incident in which a rifle was discharged during a political rally.
Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), immediately appealed the sentence and is expected to remain free while legal proceedings continue. The EFF is South Africa’s fourth-largest political party.
The conviction stems from events during the party’s fifth anniversary gathering in KuGompo City, formerly known as East London. Malema was found guilty last year on five charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a weapon in a public setting.
In delivering the sentence, Magistrate Twanet Olivier said the act was deliberate rather than spontaneous, rejecting arguments that the gunfire was merely celebratory.
Malema’s legal team had maintained that the shots were fired in celebration and that no injuries resulted from the incident.
The court, however, emphasized the broader public safety implications of firing weapons in populated areas, citing South Africa’s ongoing concerns over gun violence and accidental shootings. Olivier also said public officials carry a greater responsibility to uphold the law because of their influence and visibility.
Under South African law, a prison term exceeding 12 months could disqualify Malema from serving as a member of parliament. Any such consequence, however, would only take effect after all appeals are concluded.
The magistrate granted permission for Malema to appeal the sentence but not the conviction itself. His lawyers said they would seek leave from a higher court to challenge the conviction as well.
Following the ruling, Malema addressed supporters gathered outside the courthouse, criticizing the magistrate and alleging bias in the handling of the case. He also repeated longstanding claims that his party is confronting systemic racial inequality.
Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence, arguing that Malema’s public standing made the offence more serious. They said political leaders should model lawful conduct, particularly for younger supporters.
The case was initiated by AfriForum, a conservative advocacy group that says it represents the interests of the Afrikaner minority. The organisation has previously pursued legal action against Malema over his use of the slogan “Kill the Boer” at political events.
South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled in 2025 that the chant, which originated during the anti-apartheid struggle, did not constitute hate speech in the legal sense and was not intended as a literal call to violence.
Malema also drew international attention last year when then-US President Donald Trump played a video during a White House meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa containing edited clips of Malema’s speeches and rally appearances.
Now 45, Malema founded the EFF in 2013 after being expelled from the governing African National Congress (ANC), where he had led the party’s youth wing.
The EFF identifies itself as anti-imperialist and influenced by Marxist ideology. Its platform includes land expropriation and state ownership of key industries. The party has gained support among younger voters frustrated by persistent unemployment and inequality since the end of apartheid in 1994.
However, its electoral support has declined in recent years. In the 2024 national election, the EFF received 9.5% of the vote, down from 10.8% in 2019.
