Courts are used to settle political scores: Malema

EFF leader Julius Malema addresses party members outside the East London Regional Court in the Eastern Cape on January 24, 2026.

Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) leader Julius Malema says he is not afraid of going to prison and believes the courts are being used to settle political scores.

Malema was addressing EFF members outside the East London Regional Court in the Eastern Cape, after the adjournment of his pre-sentencing hearing on Friday.

This follows his firearm discharge conviction in October last year.

The state has indicated it will propose a prison sentence for Malema, while his defence team asked for a fine or suspended sentence.

He says he will continue his fight for economic freedom.

Malema says, “The white people who brought us to this court, it is because they don’t like being challenged. When you challenge them, they like to use you as an example.”

He adds: “I have been an example for the rest of my life and I will be an example even in my grave, I will never retreat, I will never surrender to white supremacy. No prison can make me retreat from my ideas, no death will threaten me to retreat from my ideas, nobody will ever intimidate me and change me for who I am.”