politics
April 18, 2026
South Africa’s Julius Malema gets 5-year prison sentence in gun case
South African opposition figure Julius Malema has been jailed for five years over a 2018 rally gun incident, though he remains free pending appeal
TL;DR
- Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, sentenced to five years in prison for firing a rifle at a 2018 rally.
- Convicted on charges including unlawful possession of a firearm, discharging it in public, and reckless endangerment.
- Sentences for firearm possession (5 years) and ammunition possession (2 years) are to run concurrently.
- Malema was also given an option of fines or shorter prison sentences for other counts.
- Granted leave to appeal and remains free pending the appeal's outcome.
- If the sentence stands, Malema would be barred from serving in Parliament due to the length of the prison term.
- Malema called the magistrate racist and accused the case of being politically motivated.
- Founded EFF in 2013 after expulsion from the African National Congress.
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