‘Deserves harshest punishment’: Parties rejoice as guilty Malema faces possible 15 years in prison
Opposition political parties welcome guilty verdict handed down to EFF leader Julius Malema on multiple firearm and ammunition charges.
On Wednesday, the East London Magistrate’s Court found Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) President and commander-in-chief, Julius Malema, guilty in his long-running firearm case.
The charges stem from an incident in July 2018 during the EFF’s fifth-anniversary celebration in Mdantsane, where Malema discharged a rifle in a on stage, in front of thousands of party faithful.
Despite welcoming the conviction – which confirms that Malema committed “several serious offences in terms of the Firearms Control Act” – the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) expressed immediate disappointment regarding the delay in sentencing until 23 January 2026.
Corne Mulder, leader of the FF Plus lamented the postponement, stating that justice should be served swiftly. The FF Plus insisted that the ruling reaffirmed the principle that “no one is above the law” and demanded that Malema face the “harshest punishment”, even if it is only delivered next year.
The conviction found Malema guilty of:
- Unlawful possession of a firearm;
- Unlawful possession of ammunition;
- Discharging a firearm in a built-up area;
- Failure to take reasonable precautions to person or property; and
- Reckless endangerment to person or property.
The charges of unlawful possession of a firearm carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the judgment, confirming its commitment to upholding the rule of law and proper administration of justice “without fear or favour”.
AfriForum, the Afrikaner lobby group that laid the criminal charges against Malema in August 2018, celebrated the outcome as a “huge victory” in ensuring accountability, asserting that those who believe they are “untouchable will eventually be held accountable”.
Last week, AfriForum delivered a dossier on Malema to senior Trump Administration officials in the United States, aiming to prompt international sanctions against the leader of the Red Berets.
EFF Cries ‘Witch Hunt’ as Ruling Confirms Malema Guilt
For the EFF, the verdict was not a shock, but evidence of targeted political persecution. The party noted the judgment and announced its intention to appeal the ruling, arguing that higher courts will expose the prosecution’s weaknesses.
The EFF maintained that the matter has been “maliciously pursued for more than seven years”, driven by a “political agenda” rather than compelling evidence.
The EFF argued that the prosecution is part of “coordinated attempts to discredit and sabotage” its leadership since Malema confronted corruption and exposed state capture. They claimed that the judiciary is being influenced by “imperialist and right-wing agendas”.
The party pointed to the acquittal of Malema’s co-accused, Adrian Snyman, who was alleged to have handed the firearm to the commander-in-chief, as proof that the entire matter was a “witch hunt to target the president of the EFF”.
Despite the intention to appeal, Malema affirmed he would continue to demonstrate respect for due process by availing himself for all court proceedings, including the sentencing scheduled for January 2026.
DA Demands Full Consequences for Firearm Recklessness
The Democratic Alliance (DA) unequivocally welcomed the guilty verdict, stressing that the ruling proves the EFF’s politics are rooted in a culture of “violence and criminality”. Ian Cameron, the DA’s deputy spokesperson on police, said the conviction confirmed what was always obvious from the start: Malema recklessly fired a real weapon in front of thousands of supporters.
The DA asserted that Malema’s action demonstrated “exactly the kind of thuggery the EFF is prepared to unleash on South Africa”. The party called for Malema to face the full consequences of his actions, demanding that firearm laws must apply equally to all citizens.