Julius Malema could go to jail

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has been found guilty in connection with a firearms discharge incident dating back to 2018.

The East London Magistrate’s Court delivered its judgment on Wednesday, 1 October, ruling against Malema while acquitting his security officer, Adriaan Snyman, who had faced related charges.

Malema was convicted of five offences, including the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging it in a public space and reckless endangerment.

The first charge carries a maximum 15-year sentence. Sentencing will take place on 23 January 2026.

The case stems from a rally in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, where he fired shots into the air in front of thousands of EFF supporters. Snyman, accused of supplying the firearm to Malema, was cleared of all charges.

Magistrate Twanet Olivier explained that the defence had failed to disprove the State’s case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The magistrate spent three days reviewing all witness testimony and exhibits before delivering her verdict, noting that the careful evaluation was essential despite frustrations among some EFF members over the drawn-out process.

This process has been ongoing for seven years. As News24 reported, lobby group AfriForum lodged the case under the Firearms Control Act.

Malema continues to protest his innocence, maintaining that the gun in question was a toy and contained no live ammunition.

Speaking to supporters after the ruling, Malema alleged that Afriforum and others have been out to get him.

“As a revolutionary, going to prison is a badge of honour,” he told supporters. He added that after sentencing in January, the EFF “will immediately put an appeal.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the EFF said that the decision was no surprise, “because the racist right wing Donald Trump has openly issued an instruction for Malema’s arrest, regardless of whether there is a legitimate case or not.”

The party added that the judgement is part of a wider pattern of politically motivated prosecutions against its president.

“We will engage in the judgement further, seek comprehensive legal advice, and move with the attention to appeal this ruling, trusting that higher courts will expose the weaknesses and contradictions of this prosecution.”

The EFF took particular issue with the alleged “acceptance of hearsay evidence that was not tested in court.”

However, it did not provide the specifics about what this entailed.