South African opposition politician Julius Malema has been convicted of multiple firearm-related offences stemming from a 2018 political rally where he was filmed firing a gun into the air. The conviction marks a significant legal blow to the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who faces a potential 15-year prison sentence for the most serious charge.
Guilty on Five Counts
The case centers on the EFF’s fifth-anniversary celebrations in 2018 in the Eastern Cape, where Malema addressed a crowd of approximately 20,000 supporters. During the event, video footage captured him firing between 14 and 15 live rounds into the air.
After three days of deliberation, Magistrate Twanet Olivier ruled on Tuesday, “You are found guilty as charged.”
Malema was convicted on five counts, including:
- Unlawful possession of a firearm
- Unlawful possession of ammunition
- Reckless endangerment
- Discharging a firearm in a public space
His former bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, who was charged alongside him, was acquitted. In his defense, Malema had told the court the firearm was not his and that he only fired the shots “to rouse the crowd.”
The case has been postponed to January 2026 for pre-sentencing proceedings.
Malema Vows to Fight; Faces Potential Prison Time
Appearing unfazed by the verdict, Malema immediately addressed his supporters outside the East London regional court, declaring his unwavering commitment to his political mission.
“Going to prison or death is a badge of honour,” he declared. “We cannot be scared of prison [or] to die for the revolution. Whatever they want to do, they must know we will never retreat.”
He vowed to challenge the conviction, promising to take the matter “even up to the Constitutional Court.”
Legal analyst Ulrich Roux told the BBC that there is a strong possibility Malema could face prison time, noting that the most serious charge carries a minimum sentence of 15 years. If sentenced to more than 12 months without the option of a fine, South African law disqualifies him from serving as a member of parliament, although this only becomes binding after all appeals are exhausted.
Latest in a Pattern of Legal Battles
This is not Malema’s first major run-in with the law this year, nor is it the first time he has been targeted by the Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum, which lodged the complaint over the 2018 shooting video.
Less than two months ago, in August, Malema was convicted of hate speech by South Africa’s equality court. That case stemmed from remarks made at a rally last year, where he told supporters, “You must never be scared to kill. A revolution demands that at some point there must be killing.”
His polarizing rhetoric has drawn criticism internationally, leading to him being barred from entering the UK in June, with the British Home Office deeming his presence “non-conducive to the public good” over his remarks about white people and his support for Hamas.
Opposition politicians and analysts have largely welcomed the ruling, with Ian Cameron of the Democratic Alliance describing Malema’s conduct as emblematic of the EFF’s “culture of chaos, violence and criminality.”
The January sentencing will be a pivotal moment, determining not only Malema’s personal fate but also the immediate political trajectory of one of South Africa’s most controversial and powerful figures.
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