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“Going to prison or facing death is a badge of honour,” says Malema

todayOctober 1, 2025 27

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Image credit: Economic Freedom Fighters, X
Photo credit: Economic Freedom Fighters, X

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, says he will appeal the East London Magistrates’ Court ruling that found him guilty of firing a gun at a 2018 rally, along with other related charges.

The conviction carries a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Outside the court, Malema dismissed the judgment as flawed and accused Magistrate Twanet Olivier of racism. His co-accused, former bodyguard Adriaan Snyman, was acquitted.

The verdict followed two days of proceedings during which Magistrate Olivier delivered a detailed summary of the evidence and witness testimonies.

The case stems from the EFF’s fifth anniversary rally at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, where Malema was accused of discharging a firearm.

The case was initiated by lobby group AfriForum, which welcomed the ruling. AfriForum spokesperson, Jacques Broodryk, described the verdict as a victory for justice and accountability, stressing that no one is above the law.

“The evidence overwhelmingly proved that Malema committed several serious offences under the Firearms Control Act, and the verdict confirms that those who think they are untouchable will eventually be held accountable, no matter how long it takes,” explains Broodryk.

Malema will return to court on 23 January for pre-sentencing proceedings.

Speaking to supporters, he urged them not to take court outcomes to heart.

Malema also told his supporters that he doesn’t fear going to prison, emphasizing that true revolutionaries view imprisonment and even death as honorable sacrifices necessary for their cause.

“As a revolutionary, going to prison or facing death is a badge of honour. We cannot be scared of prison, nor scared to die for the revolution,” he said.

“You must not be deterred. We leave here highly determined to fight this all the way to the Constitutional Court. We return on January 23 for sentencing, and after that, we will appeal because we believe the judgment is flawed.”

Meanwhile, Snyman’s legal representative revealed that the former bodyguard intends to take legal action against the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the police, claiming the charges against him were politically motivated.

The EFF has dismissed the judgment, saying it forms part of a broader pattern of politically motivated prosecutions that its leader Julius Malema has faced over the years.

“The EFF is therefore not surprised nor deterred by this judgment. We will engage the judgment further, seek comprehensive legal advice, and move with the attention to
appeal this ruling, trusting that higher courts will expose the weaknesses and contradictions of this prosecution.”

South Africans have shared mixed reactions to the court’s outcomes.

Written by: Nokwazi Qumbisa

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