A South African court has sentenced opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in prison for firing an assault rifle into the air at a rally eight years ago.
Hundreds of supporters dressed in red gathered outside the court during sentencing in the politically sensitive case involving the Economic Freedom Fighters leader.
Magistrate Twanet Olivier said the 45-year-old deliberately breached firearm laws when he discharged a weapon at an EFF rally in 2018, describing the act as “not an impulsive act” but “the event of the evening.”
Malema’s defence argued the shots were fired purely in celebration.
The court had considered a maximum sentence of 15 years after Malema was found guilty in October, while his legal team has confirmed plans to appeal.
The EFF, a small but outspoken opposition party, claims the case is politically motivated and aimed at silencing its leader. Supporters have threatened protests if he is jailed.
The magistrate, however, emphasised that “it is not a political party who has been convicted here… it is a person, an individual.”
The case was brought by the conservative group AfriForum, which has frequently clashed with Malema over his use of the anti-apartheid chant “Kill the Boer,” which critics say is inflammatory but courts have not ruled as hate speech.
