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

South African opposition politician Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison for firing a rifle into the air during a political rally, following a ruling by a magistrate’s court on Thursday.

Malema, 45, a prominent figure and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was convicted in 2025 on five charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a weapon in a public place.

In delivering the sentence, the court imposed a five-year prison term, along with an additional two-year sentence and a fine of R60,000 or 18 months’ imprisonment, all to run concurrently.

The sentence imposed should fit the offender as well as the crime. It must be fair to society and blended with a measure of mercy according to the circumstances of each matter.

Magistrate Twanet Olivier stated it was “nonsensical” that the defense was “sugar coating” the discharge of the firearm as a celebratory shot, adding that Malema knew what he was doing was unlawful. She noted that the accused knew it would cause harm to persons or property and yet proceeded to possess the rifle and to fire the shot in celebration.

Malema had earlier pleaded not guilty to all charges. If upheld after the appeals process, the conviction could disqualify Malema from holding public office, dealing a significant blow to the EFF.