South African opposition figure Malema sentenced to five years in prison

Malema is appealing against the decision to prevent him from being taken to prison on Thursday. Julius Malema: South African opposition figure sentenced to five years Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Julius Malema showed little emotion as he received news of the sentence A head and shoulders image of Julius Malema in court. South African opposition figure Malema sentenced to five years in prison Leading South African opposition politician Julius Malema, 45, has been sentenced to five years after being found guilty of the illegal possession of a gun and firing it in public. But Magistrate Twanet Olivier allowed the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters and MP to appeal against the verdict and sentencing, meaning that he will not immediately be taken to prison. Earlier, standing in the East London court in a dark suit and red tie, Malema showed little emotion as Olivier read out the sentence even though his political future is at stake. Last year, he was convicted of five offences, including the unlawful possession of a firearm, discharging it in public and reckless endangerment. The charges related to an incident in 2018 when a video emerged showing Malema using a semi-automatic rifle to fire several shots in the air during his party's fifth anniversary celebrations held in the country's Eastern Cape province. In his defence, Malema told the court the firearm was not his and that he had fired the shots to rouse the crowd, South African news site SowetanLIVE reported at the time. South Africa's Julius Malema marks 10 years of the EFF But during her sentencing ruling Olivier said "it wasn't... an impulsive act. It was the event of the evening," the AFP news agency reports. She added that while his political standing had no bearing on her findings, he was someone who had a large following in South Africa and should account for his actions. Malema has a long reputation as being an outspoken, charismatic and radical left-wing politician and has a loyal band of supporters. Hundreds gathered outside the court, backing Malema with chants, and singing revolutionary songs. When news came through that he would be allowed to appeal, they started calling out in the Xhosa language "sigoduka naye", which translates as "we are leaving with him today". Malema's party supporters have been out in force to show their solidarity A man in a red EFF T-shirt is among a crowd of Malema supporters. He can be seen chanting and holding his hands out to clap. Malema was once the leader of the youth wing of the governing African National Congress. But after being expelled from the party, following a falling-out with then President Jacob Zuma, he went on to form the EFF. With Malema's calls for the seizure of white-owned land and arguments that more should be done to transfer wealth to the black majority, the EFF ate away at the ANC share of the vote. It became the country's fourth largest party at the 2024 elections. After being found guilty last October, Malema was quoted as telling those outside the court in East London that "going to prison or death is a badge of honour". "We cannot be scared of prison [or] to die for the revolution. Whatever they want to do, they must know we will never retreat." He also vowed to take a challenge to the judgment up to South Africa's highest court, the Constitutional Court. Malema's prosecution came when Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum, which has a contentious relationship with him and the EFF, opened a case against Malema after the video went viral. AfriForum also had a role in another conviction against the politician. Last August, he was found guilty of hate speech by the equality court, following remarks he made at a rally in 2022. After an incident where a white man allegedly assaulted an EFF member, Malema said: "No white man is going to beat me up... you must never be scared to kill. A revolution demands that at some point there must be killing." The equality court ruled that these remarks "demonstrated an intent to incite harm", but the EFF said they were taken out of context. Additional reporting by Nobuhle Simelane Geordin Hill-Lewis is seen with his fist raised after his election as the DA's new leader Can this man broaden the appeal of a South African party seen by some as 'too white'? Small red and white candles are arranged in the shape of an Aids ribbon. A large white candle is in the centre. The candles are being lit by some disembodied hands. As US cash dries up South Africa's fight to stop Aids gets harder Senzo Meyiwa, in green kit and making a thumbs-up sign with his right hand, on 2 November 2013 during a match in South Africa Long wait for justice leaves South African families in limbo A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Julius Malema, known for his incendiary rhetoric, was recently convicted of hate speech. Malema's party argues that his remarks were taken out of context. Opposition MP Julius Malema is "non-conducive to the public good", the Home Office says. The pontiff was unusually forthright in his address at the presidential palace. Keba Seba is known for opposing French influence in Africa and backing West Africa's military leaders. Abubakar Malami was seen as one of the most influential ministers under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Zhang Kequn was arrested in March while trying to travel to China with more than 2,000 live ants. Roelf Meyer played a key role as a negotiator during talks to end white-minority rule in South Africa.