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Julius Malema, the 45-year-old leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has been sentenced to five years in prison for illegal gun possession and firing a weapon in public. Magistrate Twanet Olivier delivered the verdict on Tuesday but granted Malema permission to appeal, meaning he will not be taken into custody immediately. The MP and prominent opposition figure remained stoic in court as the sentence, which threatens his political future, was read aloud.
Last year, he was convicted of five offences, including the unlawful possession of a firearm, discharging it in public and reckless endangerment.
The charges related to an incident in 2018 when a video emerged showing Malema using a semi-automatic rifle to fire several shots in the air during his party's fifth anniversary celebrations held in the country's Eastern Cape province.
During the trial in KuGompo City, which is the new name for East London, Malema told the court that the firearm was not his and that he had fired the shots to rouse the crowd, South African news site SowetanLIVE reported at the time. But during her sentencing ruling Olivier said "it wasn't... an impulsive act. It was the event of the evening."
She added that while his political standing had no bearing on her findings, he was someone who had a large following in South Africa and should account for his actions.
Addressing some of those followers outside court, he made a series of unsubstantiated allegations against Olivier and said, without offering direct evidence, that the conviction and sentencing were a result of a conspiracy.
Malema has a long reputation as being an outspoken, charismatic and radical left-wing politician and has a loyal band of supporters.
Hundreds gathered outside the court, backing Malema with chants, and singing revolutionary songs.
