02/10/2025
DA welcomes Malema fi****ms conviction
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the guilty verdict handed down to EFF leader Julius Malema, who was found guilty of contravening the Fi****ms Control Act for firing a rifle during an EFF rally in Mdantsane in 2018.
Magistrate Twanet Olivier ruled that Malema had discharged a live firearm, rejecting his claims that the weapon was a toy.
His co-accused, former bodyguard Adriaan Snyman, was acquitted. Malema now faces possible jail time of up to 15 years, with sentencing scheduled for January 2026.
The DA said the judgment proves that โno one is above the law,โ adding that Malemaโs actions epitomise the EFFโs โculture of violence and criminality.โ The party warned that leaders who normalise lawlessness undermine South Africaโs democratic order.
Malema, who maintains the case is politically motivated, has vowed to appeal. If sentenced to more than a year without the option of a fine, he could lose his seat in Parliament, a prospect that could reshape the political landscape ahead of 2026 local government elections.
