The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema is expected to be sentenced in the East London Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape this Wednesday morning.
He was convicted last year on multiple charges, including unlawful possession and discharging a firearm in a public area.
The shooting incident was captured on video. It happened during the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebrations at the Sisa Dukashe stadium in Mdantsane in July 2018.
Malema has vowed to head to the highest court in the land to contest his sentence.
“If they send me to prison, I will appeal immediately. I will have a team in Bhisho and a team in East London on the same day. Once she says so, whatever, yes, then we put in a leave to appeal. Once she rejects it, the Bhisho team will petition the High Court and then send us proof that they’ve already petitioned the High Court.”
The case against Malema was opened by lobby group AfriForum.
During the pre-sentencing hearing in January this year, the court heard the testimony of a social worker, who testified in mitigation, which included Malema’s political impact on society and as a sole provider to many people, including his family.
Despite the social worker’s testimony, the state reserves its position on the 15-year sentence, which Malema says he is more than ready to take on.
