A court in South Africa has sentenced radical opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in prison for firing an assault rifle into the air during a political rally eight years ago.
The sentencing took place on Thursday in a case that has stirred political tensions across the country.
Hundreds of supporters wearing red — the signature colour of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) — gathered outside the courthouse during the hearing.
Magistrate Twanet Olivier ruled that Malema deliberately violated firearm laws when he discharged the weapon during an EFF rally in 2018.
“It wasn’t an impulsive act,” Olivier said during sentencing. “It was the event of the evening.”
Malema, 45, had been found guilty in October. Prosecutors argued that the act endangered public safety and sought the maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
However, the court imposed a five-year jail term.
Malema’s defence team told the court that the gunshots were meant to celebrate the occasion rather than threaten anyone.
They also confirmed that they intend to appeal the ruling.
The EFF leader is known for his fiery speeches and confrontational political style. His party remains a small but highly vocal force in South African politics.
Outside the court, supporters sang struggle songs and vowed to protest if Malema is jailed.
The EFF has described the case as an attempt to silence its outspoken leader.
However, Magistrate Olivier rejected claims of political targeting.
“It is not a political party who has been convicted here,” she said. “It is a person, an individual.”
The case was initiated by AfriForum, a conservative advocacy group that has frequently criticised Malema.
AfriForum has also challenged Malema’s use of the anti-apartheid chant “Kill the Boer,” which refers to the country’s white Afrikaner farming community.
The group argues the chant amounts to hate speech and encourages violence against white South Africans.
Courts in South Africa have previously rejected those claims, ruling that the chant forms part of historical political expression.
Malema’s appeal could now set the stage for a prolonged legal and political battle.
