South African Opposition Leader Julius Malema Jailed 5 Years Over Gun Use Charge

A South African court has sentenced radical left-wing opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in prison for firing an assault rifle at a rally eight years ago.

The ruling, delivered on Thursday, followed a politically charged trial that drew significant public attention across South Africa.

Hundreds of red-clad supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by Malema, gathered outside the East London Regional Court ahead of the sentencing.

Delivering judgement, Magistrate Twanet Olivier held that Malema had deliberately violated firearm laws when he discharged the weapon into the air during an EFF celebration in 2018.