Malema’s firearm discharging pre-sentencing proceedings starts

EFF leader Julius Malema arriving in East London ahead ahead of the pre-sentencing hearing.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema will be back in the East London Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape on Friday for pre-sentencing proceedings.

This follows his conviction for discharging a firearm during the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebrations in the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane in 2018.

Malema was charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm and reckless endangerment.

Lobby group AfriForum’s Jacques Broodryk says he’ll be surprised if the court does not slap Malema with a jail term.

“It’s very important to remember that these charges Mr Malema was found guilty of are actually very serious charges. If we look at the charge of unlawful firearm and ammunition, there have been cases where people have been sentenced up to 15 years for that. So, it’s very serious charges, of course, there may be mitigating circumstances that the judge takes into consideration, but I would be very surprised, very sceptical of the process if at least he didn’t see a few years in prison for Mr Malema,” says Broodryk.

Related video| ‘We’ll make SA ungovernable if Malema is sent to jail’: EFF supporters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsRXqUWui-c

Meanwhile, EFF supporters held a night vigil on Thursday night ahead of the pre-sentencing proceedings for their leader, Malema, on Friday.

Thousands of EFF supporters have descended on East London to show support for the leader.

EFF Secretary General Marshall Dlamini believes this is a political attack on the party, saying they will support Malema’s appeal on the judgment.

“If there is one thing the voters and the members of the EFF must know is that tomorrow the CIC, the president of the EFF, is going back to the Winnie Madikizela house to continue with the work that he was elected to lead the struggle for the poor and the landless in this country. So, we are not even worried, he’s going back to Joburg, on Monday he’s got an office to report to at Winnie Madikizela’s house to continue with the work of the EFF,” adds Dlamini.

Video| EFF members converged ahead of Malema’s pre-sentence proceedings – Marshall Dlamini shares more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00Z9rH49Ubo