Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has characterised the charges against him as politically motivated and racially biased, following his conviction on multiple firearms-related offences linked to a 2018 party rally.
The Limpopo-born opposition leader was found guilty on five counts related to the unlawful discharge of a firearm during the EFF’s fifth-anniversary celebration at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London, Eastern Cape
Charges include illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public place, and reckless endangerment
The case followed a viral video showing Malema firing what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle before cheering supporters, an incident that drew widespread condemnation and subsequently led the Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum to press charges.
Claims of Bias and Political Persecution
Malema’s then-bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, accused of supplying the weapon, was acquitted. Malema reacted angrily to the verdict, accusing Magistrate Twanet Olivier of racial bias and alleging that the ruling reflected South Africa’s unequal justice system.
“This shows that the system treats black people differently,” he said, arguing that Snyman’s acquittal was proof of racial disparity.
During the trial, Malema claimed that the firearm was a toy gun used for dramatic effect during the rally. Magistrate Olivier rejected the defence, citing ballistic and expert testimony confirming it was a real weapon. The offences however carry a potential 15-year prison sentence, with sentencing scheduled for January 2026.
The conviction follows another legal setback for Malema, who was found guilty of hate speech in September for chanting a struggle-era song widely viewed as inciting violence against white farmers.
A Polarising Figure in South African Politics
Malema has portrayed his legal troubles as politically motivated attempts to silence him. Since founding the EFF in 2013 after his expulsion from the African National Congress (ANC), he has positioned himself as a firebrand champion of the poor and marginalised, using militant rhetoric to demand land redistribution and radical economic transformation.
Speaking to supporters, he declared: “As a revolutionary, going to prison or death is a badge of honour.” He insisted that no conviction would deter him from fighting for “the freedom of black people” or from advancing his party’s radical agenda, including land expropriation without compensation and the nationalisation of key industries.
Earlier this year, Malema appeared in a video shown by U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa. Trump claimed there is a “white genocide” in South Africa; a narrative that Pretoria has repeatedly dismissed as misleading and dangerous.
