Julius Malema Convicted for Firearm Offenses: A Major Legal Setback for the EFF Leader

Sat Oct 11 2025 12:18:11 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Julius Malema, the fiery leader of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters, has been convicted of firing a gun in public. Following the ruling, he faces a potential 15-year prison sentence and criticizes the judgement as an attack on political expression.

Julius Malema, controversial leader of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has been convicted of illegal possession of a firearm and discharging it in public, stemming from a 2018 incident during an EFF rally. Malema, previously convicted of hate speech, faces a minimum sentence of 15 years as he insists on appealing the court's decision while vowing to continue his political fight.

South African opposition politician Julius Malema has been found guilty of illegal possession of a gun and firing it in public, offences which carry a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.

In 2018, a video emerged showing the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader using a semi-automatic rifle to fire several shots in the air during his party's fifth anniversary celebrations held in the country's Eastern Cape province.

He was charged alongside his former bodyguard Adriaan Snyman, who was acquitted.

Malema was convicted of hate speech less than two months ago and often lashes out at the white minority in a country where, 31 years after apartheid ended, racial tensions still run high.

He has called for the seizure of white-owned land and argues that more should be done to transfer wealth to the black majority.

Malema was convicted of five offences, including the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging it in a public space and reckless endangerment. These offences fall under the Firearms Control Act and carry a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.

He was accused of firing between 14 and 15 live rounds on a stage in front of 20,000 EFF supporters, according to South African news site SowetanLIVE.

In his defence, Malema told the court the firearm was not his and that he had fired the shots to rouse the crowd, the publication added.

It took three days for magistrate Twanet Olivier to tell Malema you are found guilty as charged. The case was postponed to January 2026 for pre-sentencing.

Malema seemed unfazed by his conviction, telling supporters that going to prison or death is a badge of honour. He vowed to challenge the judgment, possibly going all the way to South Africa's highest court, the Constitutional Court.

Malema's prosecution came after Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum opened a case against him after the video went viral. The case also included a hate speech complaint which resulted in a conviction for Malema earlier this year.

South African legal expert Ulrich Roux stated there was a good chance Malema could serve a prison sentence and he would need to present evidence to the court to avoid the minimum sentence. In South Africa, anyone serving a sentence longer than 12 months without the option of a fine cannot serve as an MP.