IDNtribune, Johannesburg – South African opposition politician and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has been found guilty in a case of public firearm discharge that occurred seven years ago. The verdict was delivered by magistrate Twanet Olivier after three days of hearings at the East London Regional Court, South Africa.
The case originated from a 2018 video showing Malema firing between 14 and 15 live rounds into the air during the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebration in the Eastern Cape province, before a crowd of approximately 20,000 supporters. Malema was charged with five offences, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging it in a public space, and reckless endangerment. One of these charges carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
In his defense, Malema claimed the firearm was not his and that he had fired the shots merely to rouse the crowd. However, the court found him guilty as charged. The case has been postponed until January 2026 for pre-sentencing proceedings.
Despite the conviction, Malema appeared unfazed, declaring that imprisonment or even death was a “badge of honor” in his political struggle. He also vowed to appeal the judgment, even up to South Africa’s Constitutional Court.
The case has drawn significant attention due to Malema’s long history of controversy. Less than two months ago, he was convicted of hate speech after remarks deemed to incite violence against the white minority. Malema has openly called for the seizure of white-owned land and redistribution of wealth to South Africa’s black majority.
Legal proceedings against Malema began after Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum filed a complaint once the shooting video went viral. AfriForum had also lodged a hate speech case against him at the South African Human Rights Commission.
Malema’s controversy extends beyond South Africa. In 2018, then–U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted Malema’s speeches as “evidence” of genocide against South Africa’s white population—a claim that has been widely discredited. That same year, Malema was denied entry to the United Kingdom due to his support for Hamas and his controversial remarks about white South Africans.
Reacting to the verdict, Ian Cameron of the Democratic Alliance stated that Malema’s conviction was not only about his personal conduct but also about what he described as the culture of violence and disorder promoted by the EFF leadership.
Meanwhile, legal expert Ulrich Roux told the BBC that Malema faces a strong possibility of a prison sentence. He emphasized that Malema must provide compelling arguments to avoid the minimum sentence of 15 years. Under South African law, anyone sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of a fine is disqualified from serving as a member of parliament, although the constitution recognizes the sentence as final only after the entire appeal process is exhausted.
