South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after a court found him guilty of firing a rifle during a political rally.
A magistrate’s court handed down the sentence on Thursday, stemming from a 2018 incident at a stadium in the Eastern Cape, where Malema discharged the firearm in a public setting. The 45-year-old politician had previously been convicted on multiple counts, including unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless discharge of a weapon, despite pleading not guilty.
Shortly after the ruling, Malema’s legal team filed an application seeking leave to appeal the sentence, signaling that the case could move to a higher court.
If the conviction and sentence are upheld, the development could have serious political consequences, potentially barring Malema from holding public office. Such an outcome would deal a blow to the Economic Freedom Fighters, the party he leads, which is currently the fourth-largest in South Africa’s parliament and enjoys significant support among younger voters.
The case is being viewed by authorities as a test of South Africa’s firearm regulations, amid ongoing concerns over public safety and gun-related incidents.
