Julius Malema granted leave to appeal 5-year firearm convictions

The Eastern Cape High Court in Makhanda has granted EFF president Julius Malema leave to appeal his conviction on firearm charges.

Malema was found guilty of contravening the Firearms Control Act by the East London Magistrate’s Court last year and handed an effective five years in direct imprisonment by Magistrate Twanet Olivier in April.

In her April ruling, after hearing arguments from the state and the defence, Olivier said she stood by her sentence, but another court could come to a different conclusion.

This court does not have any intention to stand in the way of such a possibility.

The court, however, refused leave to appeal the conviction. Malema’s legal team then petitioned the High Court.

An order signed by the High Court on Monday, 28 September, said Malema’s legal team has provided sufficient grounds for the matter to now be heard.