Julius Malema, the prominent South African opposition politician and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has been sentenced to at least five years in prison after being found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm and discharging it in public. Standing in court in a dark suit and red tie, Malema displayed little emotion as the magistrate delivered the sentence.
Malema's lawyer has indicated plans to appeal the ruling, seeking to keep the MP from being imprisoned immediately. The charges against him stem from a 2018 incident where video footage emerged of Malema using a semi-automatic rifle to fire several shots into the air during celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the EFF in the Eastern Cape.
Last year, Malema was convicted of multiple offenses, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, reckless endangerment, and public discharge of a firearm. Under South African law, a sentence exceeding one year disqualifies a person from serving as an MP; however, such disqualification will not be enforced until all avenues for appeal have been exhausted.
Malema's lawyer has indicated plans to appeal the ruling, seeking to keep the MP from being imprisoned immediately. The charges against him stem from a 2018 incident where video footage emerged of Malema using a semi-automatic rifle to fire several shots into the air during celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the EFF in the Eastern Cape.
Last year, Malema was convicted of multiple offenses, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, reckless endangerment, and public discharge of a firearm. Under South African law, a sentence exceeding one year disqualifies a person from serving as an MP; however, such disqualification will not be enforced until all avenues for appeal have been exhausted.
