A South African court has convicted opposition leader Julius Malema for breaching the country’s firearms laws after he fired an assault rifle during a political rally in 2018. The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, marks a significant legal setback for the controversial politician.
Malema, who leads the radical left‑wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, is widely known for his fiery rhetoric and confrontational style, both within South Africa and on the international stage. His political posture has consistently courted controversy and heightened tensions across the country’s political landscape.
The 44‑year‑old politician and his former bodyguard were arraigned for discharging the weapon in public during the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebration in Eastern Cape Province. Prosecutors argued that the act endangered lives and violated multiple provisions of South Africa’s gun control regime.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the court found Malema guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, and related offences. He now faces a possible custodial sentence of up to 15 years’ imprisonment, with the matter adjourned to 23 January next year for pre‑sentencing proceedings.
Malema, who was present in court for the verdict, immediately announced his intention to appeal. Addressing his supporters outside the courtroom, he adopted a defiant tone, declaring that imprisonment or even death would be a “badge of honour” in pursuit of his revolutionary ideals.
This latest conviction follows an earlier ruling in August, where Malema was found guilty of hate speech after urging his supporters at a 2022 rally to “never be scared to kill.” He has also drawn criticism for his repeated rendition of the anti‑apartheid struggle song “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer”, which many argue incites racial hostility against South Africa’s white minority.
