South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm and firing it in public.
The case goes back to a 2018 incident during his party’s fifth anniversary celebrations in the Eastern Cape, where a video showed him firing a semi-automatic rifle into the air.
The footage later became key evidence in court.
Last year, he was convicted on several charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a weapon in a public space, and reckless endangerment.
Malema appeared calm in court as the sentence was read out, showing little visible reaction.
His lawyer has said they plan to appeal the ruling, which means he will not be sent to prison immediately while the legal process continues.
Under South African law, a prison sentence of more than one year can disqualify someone from serving as a member of parliament.
However, that would only take effect once all appeal options have been exhausted.
The case has drawn attention due to Malema’s high-profile role in politics and the public nature of the incident.
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