Court Sentences Julius Malema To 5 Years For Firing Rifle At Rally

South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison for firing an assault rifle during a political rally in 2018.

Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, was convicted of violating firearm laws after shooting into the air at a party celebration.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate Twanet Olivier said the act was deliberate and unlawful, stressing the need to uphold public safety and firearm regulations.

The sentencing drew a strong reaction, with scores of EFF supporters—many dressed in the party’s signature red, gathering outside the court in solidarity with their leader.

The case, which has lingered for years, is widely seen as politically sensitive, given Malema’s influence and outspoken role in South Africa’s opposition politics.