Julius Malema Found Guilty in Firearms Case, Sentencing Set for January

Malema is found guilty in firearm case by the East London Magistrate Court.

by Mathipa Phishego

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has been found guilty on charges related to the unlawful discharge of a firearm, stemming from a 2018 incident in which he was filmed firing a rifle during an EFF rally.

The ruling was handed down in the East London Regional Court on Wednesday, bringing to a close a protracted legal battle that has shadowed the opposition leader for seven years. Malema faced charges under the Firearms Control Act, after video footage surfaced showing him discharging what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle into the air during the EFF’s fifth birthday celebrations at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.

The state argued that his actions were reckless, endangered public safety, and contravened strict regulations governing firearm use in public. The court agreed, finding that Malema’s conduct constituted a clear breach of the Act.

Malema’s co-accused, businessman Adriaan Snyman, who had allegedly supplied the firearm used in the incident, was acquitted of all charges. The court ruled that the state had not sufficiently proven his direct involvement in the unlawful discharge.

The court postponed sentencing to 26 January 2026, granting Malema time to prepare arguments in mitigation. Depending on the severity of the sentence, Malema could face a fine, imprisonment, or a suspended sentence all of which carry potential political consequences for South Africa’s third-largest political party.

The verdict is likely to intensify political debate in the run-up to the 2026 local government elections. While Malema has often used the courtroom as a political stage, a criminal conviction could dent his credibility and open new lines of attack from opponents.

The EFF has yet to issue an official response, but previously maintained that the charges against Malema were “politically motivated.” Now, Malema remains free on bail conditions until sentencing.