UPDATED: S’African left-wing party leader Malema jailed five years on gun charges

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A South African court sentenced radical left-wing opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in jail on Thursday for firing an assault rifle at a rally eight years ago.

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Hundreds of red-clad supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters party leader gathered outside the court for the sentencing in the politically charged case.

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Magistrate Twanet Olivier said Malema, 45, had deliberately violated firearm laws by shooting a gun in the air at an EFF rally in 2018.

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“It wasn’t… an impulsive act,” the magistrate said. “It was the event of the evening.”

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Malema’s defence said the shots were only intended to be celebratory.

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The state had been seeking the maximum 15-year jail term for Malema, who was found guilty in October.

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His defence team has indicated they intend to appeal.

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The EFF — a small but vocal party — says the case is an attempt to silence its outspoken leader, who is known for fiery speeches.

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Party supporters have threatened protests should their leader be jailed.

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The magistrate stressed it “is not a political party who has been convicted here… it is a person, an individual.”

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The case against the EFF leader was brought by the small, conservative group AfriForum.

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Malema has long been criticised by AfriForum, notably for his use at rallies of an anti-apartheid chant, “Kill the Boer” — a word for the country’s white Afrikaner population.

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The far-right group says it is hate speech and incites anti-white violence. This has been rejected by the courts.

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AFP

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