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EFF leader Julius Malema engages with the party’s leadership ahead of appearance before the Regional Court in KuGompo in the Eastern Cape on 15 April 2026.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema will know his fate today, when the East London Magistrate’s Court in KuGompo City in the Eastern Cape delivers a sentence in his firearm case.
On Wednesday, during arguments on mitigation and aggravation of sentence, the state sought a prison sentence, while the defence preferred a non-custodial sentence.
Malema has been convicted of discharging a firearm in public.
The incident happened during the EFF’s fifth-anniversary celebrations in Mdantsane in 2018.
State prosecutor Advocate Joel Ceasar says Malema has shown no remorse for endangering people’s lives.
“The outcry because of that shows that that should not be tolerated in a civilised society, where people’s lives are placed in danger for people who are in a celebratory mood, firing shots. In this instant, the accused did not just fire one shot and leave it at that, which can be considered an accident. His actions constitute extreme danger to the 20.000 plus people that were present, not to mention the big community of Mdantsane,” explains State prosecutor.
Malema Firearm Case | Malema addresses EFF supporters outside court:
Malema calls for calm
Malema has called on his supporters to remain calm and avoid any form of disruption.
Thousands of EFF supporters have gathered in the city in support of their leader.
He has urged them not to engage in any actions that could bring the party into disrepute.
Supporters have since returned to the Jan Smuts Stadium, where they held an overnight vigil, vowing to remain there until the sentence is delivered today.
Malema urged them to avoid retaliation for any provocation.
Firearm Case | Malema supporters rally behind him
