High Court gives Juju permission to appeal firearm conviction

The Makhanda High Court has granted Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema leave to appeal his firearm convictions, providing a significant legal lifeline for the opposition politician.

In April, Malema was sentenced to five years’ direct imprisonment by the KuGompo Regional Court for the unlawful possession of a firearm, along with concurrent sentences for related charges, including the unlawful possession of ammunition and the reckless discharge of a firearm in a built-up area during a 2018 rally in Mdantsane.

While Malema was previously granted leave to appeal his sentence, his initial application to appeal the conviction itself had been denied by the lower court. The High Court’s latest ruling now allows him to challenge both the conviction and the sentence before a full bench of the Eastern Cape Division.

The High Court has granted Malema leave to appeal his convictions after finding compelling reasons for the application.

The EFF leader remains out on warning while the legal process continues, meaning he will not be incarcerated while the appeal is pending. The decision has been welcomed by his party, which maintains that the original judgment contained significant legal errors that require further judicial scrutiny.