City braces for influx as Malema’s fate hangs in the balance

Thousands of EFF supporters are expected to descend on KuGompo City over the next two days as party leaderJulius Malemareturns to court for proceedings that could determine his political future. While the party says it will not bus in supporters from other provinces as it did duringMalema’s appearance in January, provincial leaders confirmed they were still mobilising heavily across the Eastern Cape. The party’s provincial secretary, Simthembile Madikizela, said at least 2,000 supporters from within the province would be transported to the city for Wednesday and Thursday’s proceedings.

Madikizela said the party had decided against inviting other provinces as it shifted focus to preparations for the upcoming local government elections. Malema, who was convicted in October 2025 on five charges relating to the discharge of a firearm at an EFF rally in Mdantsane in July 2018, faces the possibility of a prison sentence of up to 15 years. The charges include unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharge of a firearm in a built-up area, failure to take reasonable precautions to prevent danger to person or property, and reckless endangerment.

Malema said on Tuesday that he would immediately appeal against any custodial sentence. “When they found me guilty in October, I said I was going to appeal, but I was waiting for sentencing. “If they send me to prison, I will appeal immediately.

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I will have a team in East London and a team in Bhisho, the same day,” he said. “Once [magistrate Twanette Olivier] says I must go to jail for whatever years, we will apply for leave to appeal, and once she rejects it, the Bhisho team will petition the high court, and send us proof that they had already petitioned the high court. “We will then give that petition and immediately apply for bail, and if she refuses to grant that bail, we will also petition the high court.

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