Shock in South Africa as opposition leader Julius Malema is jailed

MaleSouth African opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of multiple firearm-related offences linked to a 2018 political rally.

The ruling was handed down by a magistrate’s court in KuGompo City (formerly East London) on Thursday, bringing a dramatic conclusion to an eight-year legal battle that has gripped South African politics.

Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was found guilty in October 2025 of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public place, reckless endangerment, and related offences.

The charges stem from footage showing him firing a rifle into the air during the EFF’s fifth anniversary rally in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape.

Prosecutors had argued for a much harsher punishment of up to 15 years’ imprisonment, describing the act as reckless and dangerous in a crowded public space. The defence had insisted the weapon was a toy gun and that the incident was misinterpreted as a political gesture.

Delivering sentence, the magistrate rejected calls for leniency, stating that the conduct posed a serious risk to public safety and could not be treated as a symbolic act.

Malema was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. His legal team confirmed they will immediately lodge an appeal against both conviction and sentence.

Outside the court, supporters gathered in large numbers as the judgment was announced, with some chanting slogans in support of the EFF leader.

The sentence is expected to have major political implications for the EFF, which relies heavily on Malema’s leadership and public profile.

If the conviction stands on appeal, it could bar him from serving in parliament and reshape the country’s opposition landscape.