Julius Malema, the leader of South Africa’s third largest political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has been sentenced to five years in prison. The ruling comes after he was caught on video firing a rifle into the air during a 2018 political rally at a stadium.
On Thursday, Magistrate Twanet Olivier handed down the sentence, rejecting Malema’s defense that the weapon was a "toy" used for celebration. The magistrate described the act as a deliberate part of the evening's program rather than a sudden impulse.
The court found Malema guilty on several charges related to the incident in the Eastern Cape province; Unlawful possession of a firearm (Five-year sentence), Unlawful possession of ammunition (Two-year sentence). Other charges Fines were issued for discharging a weapon in a public area.The sentences will run at the same time (concurrently), Malema faces a total of five years behind bars.
Immediately after the ruling in the city of KuGompo, Malema’s legal team applied for an appeal. The court granted this request, which means he will not go to jail right away. The legal battle is expected to continue in higher courts.
If the five-year sentence is upheld after the appeal process, South African law would ban Malema from serving as a member of Parliament and it would be a massive blow to the EFF, a party that draws significant support from young voters frustrated by the country's ongoing poverty and inequality.
Outside the courtroom, hundreds of EFF supporters wearing the party's signature red uniforms gathered to protest the decision. The EFF claims the case is a "political hit job" designed to silence one of the government’s harshest critics.
However, the magistrate dismissed these claims, stating that the court was judging an individual for breaking the law, not targeting a political organization. While Malema could have faced up to 15 years, the five-year sentence remains a defining moment for South African politics.
Source: BBC News
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