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.

Malema, the leader of the far-left opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was handed a five-year sentence on Thursday by Magistrate Twanet Olivier. Malema, who is one of South Africa’s most prominent politicians, was convicted last year of charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a weapon in a public place over the 2018 incident at a stadium in the Eastern Cape province.

The court sentenced Malema to five years for unlawful possession of a firearm and two years for unlawful possession of ammunition. It gave him fines for three other offences, including discharging a firearm in a built-up area, with prison time if he doesn’t pay. The sentences will run at the same time.

It is not a political party who has been convicted here … it is a person, an individual.

The magistrate stressed it “is not a political party who has been convicted here … it is a person, an individual.” The maximum possible sentence was 15 years in prison. If confirmed after all appeals, Thursday’s five-year sentence would bar Malema from serving as a lawmaker.

Magistrate Twanet Olivier said Malema, 45, had deliberately violated firearm laws by shooting a semi-automatic rifle in the air at an EFF rally in 2018. She allowed Malema to be released on a previous bail and pending an appeal against the sentence with another court. Malema’s defence said the shots were only intended to be celebratory.