Thousands of supporters thronged the streets outside the East London Regional Court on Friday as opposition leader Julius Malema awaited sentencing in the high-profile firearm case that has gripped South Africa.
Malema is the firebrand leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters; he was convicted by the court in October 2025 on various counts arising from an incident at a political rally in 2018. He was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm, discharging a firearm in a public place, reckless endangerment, and related offences under South Africa’s Firearms Control Act.
The case stems from Malema’s actions during the EFF’s fifth anniversary rally at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, when video footage showed him firing a rifle into the air in front of thousands of supporters. The footage circulated widely on social media and became central evidence in the trial.
Malema’s supporters — many wearing the EFF’s trademark red berets and waving placards — filled the streets and courtroom gallery. They came to show solidarity with their leader as the court prepared to decide his sentence.
The charges carry a potential prison term of up to 15 years, though legal experts say the sentence may be reduced if mitigating circumstances are recognised by the court. In South Africa, a sentence longer than 12 months could result in Malema losing his seat in Parliament, a factor that could have political connotations itself.
During pre-sentencing proceedings, a report by a social worker was presented to recommend non-custodial sentencing, which in this instance could mean a fine, considering that the incident had not resulted in any injuries or damages, while weighing in on the fact that it was a very brief and celebratory fire.
However, the state has signalled it will press for a significant penalty, and legal experts have warned that imprisonment remains a real possibility, given the seriousness of firearm offences and public safety concerns.
Malema himself has remained defiant. Outside the court, he has described the case as politically motivated and said he is prepared to appeal the conviction through South Africa’s higher courts, including up to the Constitutional Court.
He and his supporters have also criticised the civil rights organisation AfriForum, which brought the original complaint in 2018, accusing it of using the legal system to undermine his political influence.
For many of his followers, Malema remains a powerful voice for economic reform and racial equality in South Africa, and the court proceedings have highlighted the deep divisions in the country’s political landscape.
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The ruling will have important and far-reaching consequences for Malema’s life, as well as for the future of the EFF and the broader constellation of issues regarding law and political expression.
