As of today (16 April 2026), Malema was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in the KuGompo City (East London) Regional Court for convictions related to the Firearms Control Act. These stem from an incident in July 2018 at an EFF rally in Mdantsane, where he was found guilty of unlawfully discharging a firearm (firing shots into the air) and related charges.
Key details:
- The state had pushed for the maximum 15-year sentence, arguing it would set a dangerous precedent if he avoided jail.
- Malema’s legal team argued for a non-custodial sentence (e.g., a fine or suspended term).
- He has already indicated he will appeal the conviction and sentence immediately, and his lawyers are seeking to prevent immediate imprisonment while the appeal process unfolds.
- A sentence of more than 12 months without the option of a fine could disqualify him from serving as a Member of Parliament (MP), but appeals typically suspend such consequences until resolved.
This is a live, developing story with proceedings happening today—sentencing arguments carried over from yesterday, and the final outcome (including whether he serves any time now) depends on the appeal. Malema has framed any potential prison time as a “badge of honour” in line with his political style.
