By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Leader Julius Malema has been found guilty over a reckless discharge of a firearm in a public space, dating back to 2018. Due to this guilty verdict Malema is looking at up to 15 years in prison.

A video surfaced which showed the EFF leader firing gun shots in the air in the Eastern Cape during the party’s fifth anniversary celebration.

His former bodyguard Adriaan Snyman was charged alongside Malema, but ended up being acquitted for his charges regarding the incident.

In addition to these gun charges, Malema, two months ago, was also charged with hate speech as he has often shown great disdain towards the minority owning majority of South Africa’s economy.

 Malema is convicted for a total of five offences which include; an unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging the firearm in a public space as well as reckless endangerment, with the first charge already carrying 15 years imprisonment.

 Malema fired the gun in front of 20,000 EFF supporters, firing between 14-15 rounds, Malema argued that he does not own the firearm that was discharged and that he only intended to rile up the crowd.

Twanet Olivier, the magistrate that oversaw the case, only took a total of three days to reach a guilty verdict with the case being postponed to January 2026 for a pre-sentencing.

 Despite the guilty verdict Malema seemed unbothered by it and stated that it is an honour to go to prison or die for the cause that he is fighting for.

 “We cannot be scared of prison or to die for the revolution. Whatever they want to, they must know we will never retreat.” said Julius Malema after his conviction outside the East London regional court.

 Malema vowed to take this matter up to the Constitutional Court as he intends to challenge the judgement. Afriforum is responsible for opening the case against Julius Malema, as this follows years of conflict and contention between the two parties.

 Afriforum are also the ones responsible for laying a hate speech charge against the EFF leader and brought the case to the South African Human Rights Commission.

 The United States President Donald Trump earlier this year showed a video of Julius Malema at a EFF rally shouting “kill the boer, kill the farmer”, in the White House, a video Trump used as evidence over claims of a “white-genocide” taking place in South Africa.

The United Kingdom also saw fit to ban Malema from entering their country a month after the video was shown in the White House.