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

JOHANNESBURG — South African opposition party leader Julius Malema was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday after he was convicted of breaking firearm laws by firing a rifle at a political rally in 2018. He was released pending an appeal, which will be heard at a later date.

If the verdict and sentence are upheld, Malema will be disqualified as a lawmaker. South African law bars anyone from serving in Parliament if they have been convicted of an offense and sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of a fine.

Malema was convicted in October on five counts, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharge of a firearm in a built-up area and reckless endangerment. Malema, the leader of the far-left opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was handed the sentence by Magistrate Twanet Olivier.

The 45-year-old leader of the fourth-biggest party in parliament had pleaded not guilty, arguing the gun was a toy. His defense said the shots were only intended to be celebratory.

It wasn’t … an impulsive act.

As the hearing was unfolding, hundreds of supporters of his far-left Economic Freedom Fighters group gathered outside the court, wearing the party’s trademark red berets and singing campaign songs. Legal expert Ulrich Roux said Malema would not be transferred to jail while the appeal was pending.