South African opposition leader Julius Malema, head of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has been found guilty of multiple gun related offences, including illegal possession of a firearm, unlawful discharge in public, and reckless endangerment. The case stems from a viral 2018 video showing Malema firing 14–15 live rounds from a semi automatic rifle during the EFF’s fifth-anniversary rally in the Eastern Cape, in front of more than 20,000 supporters. His co-accused and former bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, was acquitted.
Magistrate Twanet Olivier took three days to deliver the verdict, declaring Malema “guilty as charged.” Under South Africa’s Firearms Control Act, the offences carry a minimum prison sentence of 15 years. Pre-sentencing has been postponed until January 2026. The conviction adds to Malema’s growing list of controversies. In August, the Equality Court found him guilty of hate speech after remarks interpreted as incitement to violence against white South Africans. His fiery rhetoric on land expropriation and racial tensions has long made him one of the country’s most divisive politicians.
Outside the East London Regional Court, Malema dismissed the ruling, calling prison or death a “badge of honour” for the revolution. “We will never retreat,” he told cheering supporters, vowing to appeal all the way to the Constitutional Court if necessary. Malema’s prosecution followed a complaint by Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum, which also played a role in his earlier hate speech case. The group welcomed the ruling, saying it highlighted “the culture of chaos and criminality” Malema promotes.
His legal troubles could have far reaching political consequences. South Africa’s constitution bars anyone sentenced to more than 12 months in prison from serving as a Member of Parliament. While appeals could delay this, legal experts warn Malema faces a “real risk” of prison time. The conviction comes amid a wider debate about accountability and political rhetoric in South Africa, where Malema remains both a lightning rod for criticism and a powerful voice for radical economic change.
