‘The show is over’: Court told Malema is shifting blame and deserves jail time

EFF leader Julius Malema appears at KuGompo Magistrate’s Court for sentencing proceedings on 15 April 2026. Picture: Gallo Images/Randell Roskruge EFF leader Julius Malema’s legal team has argued that the politician would be harshly punished if he were jailed, while the state contended that he was quick to blame others for his actions. Supporters gathered in large numbers outside the KuGompo City (formerly East London) Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, as the outspoken leader returned to the dock forsentencing proceedingsin his firearm-discharge case.

The show of support extended beyond the streets, with members of Malema’s family, including his wife, Mantwa, and one of his sons, attending the hearing as closing arguments were presented by both the defence and the prosecution. Malema faces a potential prison sentence ranging from a minimum of two years to a maximum of 15 years following hisconvictionon multiple charges. These include unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public space, and reckless endangerment.

The conviction stems from a widely circulated video recorded during the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebrations at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on 28 July 2018, in which Malema is seen firing what appeared to be a rifle in front of thousands of supporters. Malema’s legal representatives, including Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi and Advocate Laurance Hodes, argued that the state had taken an inconsistent approach in emphasising Malema’s political prominence. Hodes told the court that his status as a public figure must be treated consistently, either as a mitigating factor or an aggravating one.

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“So you ask on the one hand to make an example of this accused because he is the current leader of a political party, then they tell you ‘no, there’s an imperative – you must make us all equal before the law’,” he said. The defence maintained that no injuries or damage resulted from the incident, urging the court to weigh this aspect in determining an appropriate sentence. They further contended that prosecutions of this nature are rare in South Africa.

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