Julius Malema sentenced to direct imprisonment and fines
Malema had pleaded not guilty, and Malema had told the court the firearm was a toy.
The East London Magistrate’s Court has sentenced EFF leader Julius Malema to five years in prison for count 1, along with fines for other counts. He was also deemed unfit to possess a firearm.
His legal representatives expressed the intention to appeal the sentences.
Malema returned to the court on Thursday, where Magistrate Twanet Olivier delivered the judgment. The EFF leader was convicted of multiple charges, including the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public space and reckless endangerment.
The conviction stems from a circulated video recorded during the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebrations at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on 28 July 2018, in which Malema is seen firing what appeared to be a rifle in front of thousands of supporters.
Malema pleaded not guilty to the charges, telling the court the firearm was a toy.
‘Event planned, not accidental’
Handing down judgment, Magistrate Olivier said the crimes could not be condoned because the events that transpired at the celebration were carefully planned, not accidental.
“All decisions were made by the leadership. So there can be no doubt that you are saying the event’s unique feature was committing five offences. That is the bottom line. Clearly, planning of this nature is in contrast with the law. How can a court of law consider that the actions of the accused did not intend or did not entail the intention to commit an offence?” asked Magistrate Olivier.
“It is not the thinking of the court; it is the facts before the court because that is what happened. It wasn’t, as the state correctly stated, an impulsive act and wasn’t, as a result of the case law that we heard, an act of passion. This wasn’t anger; it was the event of the evening. And therein lies the difference.
“This is a decision that a person made to possess a semi-automatic rifle unlawfully, including the decision then to proceed and fire the said rifle in a built-up area, in a crowded stadium. The decision to break the law has been made, with the approval of the accused person and the leadership.
“Since it’s confirmed that this was the future planned for the event, it clearly indicates that the accused knew it was unlawful. He knew it might harm persons or property. He knew all the above, and yet proceeded to possess the rifle and to fire the shot in celebration of the 5th birthday celebrations of the EFF, always knowing when this was being arranged in this special feature that it was in contravention of the law.”
Malema’s political prominence
On Wednesday, Malema’s legal representatives, including Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi and Advocate Laurance Hodes, argued that the state had taken an inconsistent approach in emphasising Malema’s political prominence.
Hodes told the court that his status as a public figure must be treated consistently, either as a mitigating factor or an aggravating one.
“So you ask on the one hand to make an example of this accused because he is the current leader of a political party, then they tell you ‘no, there’s an imperative – you must make us all equal before the law’,” he said.
The defence maintained that no injuries or damage resulted from the incident, urging the court to weigh this aspect in determining an appropriate sentence.
They further contended that prosecutions of this nature are rare in South Africa.
“To send any person to prison for this single event would be shockingly inappropriate,” Hodes remarked.
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Additional reporting by Molefe Seeletsa
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