South African opposition leader, Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after discharging a rifle during a political rally.
The leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) received the sentence on Thursday from Magistrate Twanet Olivier following his conviction over a 2018 incident at a stadium in Eastern Cape.
Malema, 45, was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, and discharging a weapon in a built-up area.
He had denied the charges, insisting the firearm was a toy and that the shots fired were merely celebratory.
The court, however, dismissed his defence, ruling that the act was deliberate.
He was handed a five-year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm and an additional two years for ammunition possession, with both sentences to run concurrently.
The court also imposed fines for related offences.
Shortly after the ruling in KuGompo City, formerly known as East London, Malema’s legal team was granted leave to appeal the judgment.
Large crowds of supporters gathered outside the court, while the EFF described the case as politically motivated.
However, the magistrate stressed that the ruling was based on Malema’s actions as an individual, not his political affiliation.
If the conviction is upheld on appeal, the sentence could disqualify Malema from holding public office, dealing a significant blow to both his political career and the future of the EFF.
