Eastern Cape courts dealt with a number of high-profile cases in 2025, spanning the prosecution of politicians, corruption matters, violent crime and serious sexual offences. Among the most prominent was the firearms case against EFF leader Julius Malema, which dominated headlines throughout the year. Since the trial began in 2023, Malema and the EFF leadership maintained he had no case to answer on charges linked to the discharge of a rifle during the party’s fifth birthday celebrations at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in 2018.
In October, Malema was found guilty on all five counts, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area or public place, reckless endangerment, and failing to take reasonable precautions to avoid danger to people or property. As a revolutionary, going to prison or death is a badge of honour. We cannot be scared of prison.
We cannot be scared to die for the revolution. His bodyguard, Adrian Snyman, was acquitted of charges relating to the Firearms Control Act and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Reacting to the verdict, Malema said: “As a revolutionary, going to prison or death is a badge of honour.
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We cannot be scared to die for the revolution.” Another closely watched case involved Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo, who pleaded not guilty in July to charges of fraud, uttering and forgery. Kupelo, a deputy director of communications, is standing trial after his arrest by the Hawks last year for allegedly submitting fraudulent matric results to the department when requested by his supervisor, Siyanda Manana. In an arrest that sent shockwaves through the education sector, deputy school principal Vuyokazi Gana was brought before court on charges of human trafficking.
The 52-year-old faces eight counts after being accused of running a prostitution and trafficking ring involving girls and young women at an alleged brothel in East London. Several matters linked to violence and corruption at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) continued to play out in court.
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