South African politician Julius Malema sentenced to 5 years for firing rifle shots at rally

South African opposition leader Julius Malema was sentenced to five years in jail on Thursday for firing a rifle in the air at a rally, a judgement that could bar the prominent campaigner from parliament.

Soon after, the 45-year-old was allowed to appeal against his sentence by a magistrate in KuGompo City and released until the case is heard by the high court.

As the hearing was unfolding, hundreds of supporters of his far-left Economic Freedom Fighters group gathered outside the court, wearing the party’s trademark red berets and singing campaign songs.

Legal expert Ulrich Roux said Malema would not be transferred to jail while the appeal was pending.

Malema has said he will go all the way to the country’s top court, the Constitutional Court, a process Roux said could take years.