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 conviction, a significant development in his ongoing legal battle.

In April, Malema was sentenced to five years’ direct imprisonment by the KuGompo Regional Court for the unlawful possession of a firearm, along with a concurrent two-year sentence for the unlawful possession of ammunition. He also received fines for discharging a firearm in a built-up area and failing to take reasonable precautions.

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

While Malema was previously granted leave to appeal his sentence shortly after the initial ruling, the lower court had initially denied his request to appeal the conviction itself. This latest decision by the High Court means that both the conviction and the five-year effective prison term will now be reviewed by a full bench of the Makhanda High Court.

Malema, who has maintained that the charges were politically motivated, remains out on warning while the appeal process continues.