Julius Malema sentenced to 5 years in jail for firing gun in public
Firebrand EFF leader fired several shots in the air during 2018 party gig
By Staff Reporter
Firebrand South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years imprisonment following his conviction for illegal possession of a firearm and firing it in public.
Malema got himself into trouble when fired several shots in the air from a semi-automatic rifle during his Economic Freedom Fighters party’s fifth anniversary celebrations held in the Eastern Cape province back in 2018.
The incident was also caught on video.
Malema was last year convicted of five offences, which included the unlawful possession of a firearm, discharging it in public and reckless endangerment.
But Magistrate Twanet Olivier allowed the charismatic politician and lawmaker to appeal against the verdict and sentencing, meaning that he will not immediately be taken to prison.
