South African opposition leader, Malema, may lose seat over conviction

A South African court sentenced radical left-wing opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in jail on Thursday for firing a rifle into the air at a rally eight years ago. Hundreds of red-clad supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party leader gathered outside in several centres across the country to follow the sentencing […]

A South African court sentenced radical left-wing opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in jail on Thursday for firing a rifle into the air at a rally eight years ago.

Hundreds of red-clad supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party leader gathered outside in several centres across the country to follow the sentencing live in the politically charged case.

Magistrate Twanet Olivier said Malema, 45, had deliberately violated firearm laws by shooting a semi-automatic rifle in the air at an EFF rally in 2018.

She allowed Malema to be released on a previous bail and pending an appeal against the sentence with another court.

Malema’s defence said the shots were only intended to be celebratory.

“They are trying by all means to silence this voice,” Malema told hundreds of supporters outside the court in the city of KuGompo, formerly East London, after he was released. “They will never win.”

Accusing the magistrate of racism, he said: “We are fighting the enemy and the enemy is white supremacy.”

But Oliver insisted that “the decision to break the law has been made and it was made with the approval of the accused person and the leadership”.

Malema “knew that it may cause harm to persons or property”, she said.

The state had been seeking the maximum 15-year jail term for Malema, who was found guilty in October.

The EFF – a small but vocal Marxist-inspired party – won under 10 per cent of the vote in the 2024 general elections and has 39 seats in the 400-seat parliament.