A South African court on Thursday sentenced EFF President Julius Malema to five years in prison for firing a semi-automatic rifle at the party’s fifth anniversary celebrations in 2018.
“In respect of count 1 you are sentenced to a period of 5 years imprisonment, in respect of count 2 you are sentenced to a period of 2 years imprisonment, in respect of count 3 you are sentenced to R20,000 or to undergo six months imprisonment,” Magistrate Twanet Olivier told the court.
The conviction stems from a viral video showing Malema firing what appeared to be a .223 Remington round from a rifle into the air at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, in July 2018.
Magistrate Olivier said the shooting was premeditated rather than spontaneous, and that Malema had deliberately taken possession of the weapon. He was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Malema’s lawyers applied for leave to appeal within minutes of the ruling and the request was granted. He will remain out on a warning until the appeal process is complete.
The EFF leader sharply criticized the magistrate’s comments about the financial cost of the trial to taxpayers during sentencing, and confirmed he intends to challenge both conviction and sentence – taking the matter to the Constitutional Court if necessary.
