Julius Malema sentenced to five years

The East London Magistrate’s Court has sentenced EFF leader Julius Malema to five years imprisonment in his firearm case.

Malema was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharge of a firearm in a built-up area, failure to take reasonable precautions to protect a person or property, and reckless endangerment to a person or property. This is after he was seen on viral footage firing a rifle in public at an EFF rally in 2018.

ALSO READ: Julius Malema found guilty in firearm case

Magistrate Twanet Olivier said the court has had sufficient time to read, peruse, and digest what has been presented by the defence.

“The sentence imposed should fit the offender as well as the crime. It must be fair to society and blended with a measure of mercy according to the circumstances of each matter,” she said.

ALSO READ: Julius Malema denied visa to UK

1. Count 1: 5yrs direct imprisonment
2. Count 2: 2yrs direct imprisonment
3. Count 3: R20k fine or 6 months imprisonment
4. Count 4: R20k fine or 6 months imprisonment
5. Count 5: Fine of R20k or 6 months imprisonment

However, Malema’s lawyers applied for leave to appeal the magistrate’s decision within minutes of it being read out which was subsequently granted.

The court has dismissed his bid to appeal his conviction, maintaining that the Limpopo-born politician did indeed break the law.