Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema was sentenced at the KuGompo Magistrate’s Court on this Thursday afternoon 16 April 2026, following the conclusion of his firearm discharge trial.

Malema, who is one of South Africa’s most prominent politicians, was convicted last years charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a weapon in a public place over the 2018 incident at a stadium in the Eastern Cape province.

 Magistrate Twanet Olivier handed down a five-year prison sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm, alongside two years for unlawful possession of ammunition and fines for three additional offences, including discharging a firearm in a built-up area. The sentences will run concurrently, making the effective term five years.

Delivering judgment, Olivier stressed that the conviction was against Malema as an individual, not his political party. “It wasn’t an impulsive act. It was the event of the evening,” she said, referring to the incident in which Malema fired shots into the air at a rally last 8 years.

The sentencing drew hundreds of EFF supporters, many dressed in the party’s trademark red regalia, who gathered outside the courthouse in KuGompo City. They sang, chanted, and denounced the ruling as politically motivated, vowing to continue supporting their leader. The atmosphere was tense but defiant, underscoring the political stakes of the case. 

Within minutes of the ruling, Malema’s legal team filed an application for leave to appeal, which was granted. This means Malema will remain free while the case moves to a higher court.

If the sentence is upheld after appeals, Malema will be barred from serving in Parliament or holding public office for five years, as South African law disqualifies anyone sentenced to more than 12 months without the option of a fine. That would represent a major setback for the EFF, which relies heavily on Malema’s leadership and enjoys strong support among young South Africans frustrated by persistent inequality.