Malema calls sentence against him biased, driven by racial prejudice

Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, has called the five-year direct imprisonment sentence against him biased and based on racial prejudice by the presiding Magistrate, Twanet Olivier.

Olivier handed the sentence in the Regional Court in KuGompo City in the Eastern Cape today.

Malema has been sentenced to five years direct imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm and two years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition. The sentences will run concurrently.

Malema was found guilty of contravening firearm controls when he discharged an automatic rifle in the air during the EFF’s fifth birthday celebration in Mdantsane in 2018.

Malema is appealing the sentence.

Speaking to his party members and supporters outside the court, Malema maintained that the judgment had no legal basis.

“She doesn’t know what is contained in the documents in front of her. So, we are dealing with someone who doesn’t apply the law. The law, whether you hate someone or not, you have to answer the question; what does the law say on this matter? She will not answer because she doesn’t read heads of arguments,” adds Malema.

Malema’s party says it is looking forward to appealing the sentence in the High Court.

EFF’s Deputy Secretary Leigh-Ann Mathys says they are confident that another court will come at a different conclusion.

“For now, obviously, we are going to go to the high court. We are glad that the NPA also showed some soberness in terms of not opposing bail. You can see that they have been all over the place since this case started so we will take it from there. Obviously, we will hit the ground running since it’s our election year- we have put down our systems. The CIC is obviously in two provinces, Gauteng and Limpopo, so we are not going to be deterred by anything,’” adds Mathys.

Malema Firearm Case | Impact of Malema’s sentence on his political career – Lukhona Mnguni: 

-Report by Sisipho Ngcumbe and Lubabalo Dada