Julius Malema sentenced to five years in jail, appeals conviction
via The Citizen5 min read
Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters EFF, was sentenced to five years in jail for firing an assault rifle into the air during a 2018 rally. Malema criticized Magistrate Twanet Olivier, accusing her of bias and suggesting her remarks were politically motivated. He also criticized state prosecutor Joel Cesar. Malema has been granted leave to appeal the sentence, but not the conviction, which means he does not immediately lose his position as an MP. Parliamentary rules state that a custodial sentence without the option of a fine exceeding 12 months would lead to an MP losing their seat for five years after the sentence is served. Analysts Goodenough Mashego and Theo Neethling suggest the legal battle could reshape Malema's image and the EFF's political future. Mashego believes Malema might use the situation to boost his popularity by playing the victim, potentially impacting the party in the long run. Neethling notes that while Malema is unlikely to face immediate incarceration, an upheld sentence could lead to his disqualification from the National Assembly, significantly altering parliamentary dynamics and the EFF's political standing, especially with local government elections approaching. Brand reputation strategist Solly Moeng and reputation expert Tshepo Matseba emphasize the importance of how Malema and the EFF respond to the judgment to avoid damaging their reputation. Matseba suggests Malema is reframing the conviction within a broader political contes
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The MK party has criticized the South African Parliament for excluding the official opposition from a parliamentary delegation visiting the Russian Federation. The five-member delegation, led by National Council of Provinces Chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, is in Moscow from July 13 to 17, 2026, to strengthen bilateral relations. With the exception of one Al Jama-ah MP, the delegation is composed entirely of ANC MPs. MK party spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu stated that this exclusion is unconstitutional, undemocratic, and damages South Africa's international credibility, arguing it violates parliamentary conventions requiring proportional representation in international delegations. Mahlangu emphasized that denying the largest opposition party a seat is an assault on democratic practice and risks creating a perception that parliamentary diplomacy is used for partisan interests. MK Party Chief Whip in the NCOP, Lungile Mhlongo, has lodged a formal complaint. Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo responded that Mtshweni-Tsipane consulted the four largest parties, and only those who confirmed availability were included, with others declining due to prior commitments.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is seeking an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court to halt Section 89 impeachment proceedings against him, arguing that he will suffer irreparable harm if they proceed before his review application is heard. Advocate Wim Trengove SC, representing the president, argued that the independent panel, which found prima facie evidence of potential constitutional and PRECCA violations related to the Phala Phala scandal, did not adequately consider Ramaphosa's responses. Trengove contended that the panel should have weighed all evidence to determine if there was sufficient cause for a public inquiry, rather than merely establishing a prima facie case based on accusers' evidence. Judge Andr茅 le Grange questioned this, noting the panel's limitations to affidavits and a 30-day reporting period. Trengove maintained that a public trial of a sitting president would cause significant and irreversible reputational damage, even if the report were later overturned. He stated that the president is not trying to protect the disclosure of facts but to avoid public humiliation from being tried for a serious offense. Conversely, Judge Matthew Francis suggested that the proceedings could lead to exoneration. William Mokhare SC, representing the impeachment committee chair, argued that Ramaphosa had "missed the boat" to review the report and that the committee has a constitutional duty to proceed impartially. Mokhare assured that the committee would ensure fair a
The South African police ministry has spent only R15.001 million of the R1 billion allocated to combat organized crime, with R984.999 million remaining unspent as of June 26. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana confirmed in February that R1 billion would be made available annually to both the police and army until March 2027. The funds, sourced from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account, were intended for operational deployments, organized crime interventions, equipment, technology, and national stabilization efforts, focusing on illicit trade, economic crimes, and violent organized crime. While the ministry aims to disable and dismantle criminal groupings, a separate parliamentary response indicated that no gangs were fully dismantled during Operation Prosper. In Gauteng, opposition members, including DA member of the provincial legislature Michael Sun, expressed concern over the lack of funding for gang investigations, noting that only R3.8 million was budgeted for visible policing in the province despite 979 gang-related crimes, including 258 murders, reported over the last four financial years. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi highlighted that gang activity is rooted in socio-economic factors like poverty and family dysfunction, with 12 schools linked to gang recruitment in areas such as Westbury and Eldorado Park.