Firebrand South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison over a firearm offence, in a ruling that has sent shockwaves through the country’s political landscape.
But in a dramatic turn, Magistrate Twanet Olivier granted him leave to appeal, allowing the Economic Freedom Fighters leader to walk free for now.
Calm and composed in a dark suit and signature red tie, Malema showed little reaction as the sentence was read, even as his political future hung in the balance.
The charges stem from a 2018 incident at celebrations marking the anniversary of the Economic Freedom Fighters, where Malema was captured on video firing a semi automatic rifle into the air.
He was later convicted on multiple counts, including unlawful possession of a firearm, discharging it in public, and reckless endangerment.
In court, Malema defended his actions as celebratory. But Olivier dismissed that claim, ruling that the act was deliberate and central to the event.
“It was not an impulsive act. It was the event of the evening,” she said, stressing that Malema’s influence as a national figure made his conduct more serious.
Moments after the ruling, Malema emerged defiant, accusing unseen forces of orchestrating his prosecution.
“They are trying by all means to silence this voice. They will never win,” he declared. “We are fighting the enemy and the enemy is white supremacy.”
Outside court, hundreds of supporters erupted into chants and struggle songs, creating an atmosphere more akin to a political rally than a legal proceeding. When news broke that he would not be immediately jailed, jubilation spread through the crowd.
“Sigoduka naye!” they chanted, meaning “we are leaving with him today.”
Once a rising star within the African National Congress, Malema’s political journey has been marked by confrontation and reinvention. After his expulsion following a fallout with former president Jacob Zuma, he went on to found the EFF, transforming it into one of South Africa’s most influential opposition movements.
Despite the legal setback, Malema remains unyielding. He has pledged to challenge the ruling all the way to the Constitutional Court.
“We cannot be scared of prison or death for the revolution,” he said. “We will never retreat.”
For now, the battle shifts from the courtroom to the appeals process, with Malema’s political fate hanging in the balance.
