Julius Malema granted leave to appeal 5-year firearm convictions

The Makhanda High Court has granted Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema leave to appeal his five-year firearm conviction.

In April, Malema was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for the unlawful possession of a firearm and a concurrent two-year sentence for a lesser charge by the Kugompo City Magistrates’ Court.

Following his sentencing, Malema was initially granted leave to appeal his direct imprisonment sentence, but the magistrate at the time denied his application for leave to appeal the conviction itself.

Malema subsequently petitioned the High Court to challenge the refusal of his appeal against the conviction. The High Court has now granted this leave, finding that there are compelling reasons for the application to be heard.

The case stems from an incident in July 2018, when Malema was filmed firing a rifle into the air during the EFF’s 5th-anniversary celebrations at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.