South African opposition leader Julius Malema sentenced to five years for illegal firearm possession

Malema's lawyer stated they would appeal the decision to prevent the Economic Freedom Fighters leader and Member of Parliament from being incarcerated. Malema displayed little emotion as the magistrate delivered the sentence. Last year, he was convicted of five offenses, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging it in a public space, and reckless endangerment.

These charges stem from a 2018 incident where a video showed Malema firing a semi-automatic rifle into the air during his party’s fifth-anniversary celebrations in the Eastern Cape province. A sentence exceeding one year disqualifies him from his parliamentary seat, though this will not be enforced until all appeal avenues are exhausted.