A South African court has sentenced opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in prison after finding him guilty of firing a gun at a public rally in 2018.
The ruling was delivered by Magistrate Twanet Olivier, who said Malema deliberately broke firearm laws when he discharged an assault rifle into the air during an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) celebration.
The case, which has stretched on for years, is politically sensitive, with large crowds of EFF supporters gathering outside the court during Thursday’s sentencing.
Malema, one of South Africa’s most prominent and controversial political figures, had been accused of violating firearm regulations during the 2018 event.
The court concluded that his actions amounted to a clear breach of the law.
Details shortly.
