South African opposition leader Julius Malema was found guilty on Wednesday of violating the country’s firearm laws after a 2018 video surfaced showing him firing a rifle at a political rally. The verdict marks a significant legal setback for one of South Africa’s most controversial political figures.
Malema, who heads the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was convicted of contravening the Firearms Control Act following a lengthy court process. The case stemmed from footage of Malema discharging a firearm during his party’s fifth anniversary celebration in the Eastern Cape province seven years ago — a moment that quickly went viral and ignited national debate.
Magistrate Twanet Olivier dismissed Malema’s defense that the weapon was merely a “toy gun,” ruling that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. “The evidence shows that the accused was in possession of, and fired, a real firearm,” the magistrate stated in court.
Malema’s former bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, who was accused of supplying the rifle, was acquitted of all charges. Malema reacted angrily to the split ruling, accusing the magistrate of racial bias. “Snyman walks free because he is white, while I am convicted because I am black,” Malema told his supporters gathered outside the East London Magistrates Court.
The politician vowed to appeal the verdict, saying he would “take the fight all the way to the Constitutional Court.” If the conviction is upheld, Malema could face a maximum of 15 years in prison, although the court is not bound by a minimum sentence — leaving room for a lighter penalty. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 23, 2026.
The case originated after the Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum filed criminal charges against Malema in 2018, arguing that his behavior demonstrated a disregard for public safety and the rule of law. The incident fueled long-standing tensions between Malema’s leftist movement and South Africa’s white minority communities.
Malema, a former leader of the ruling African National Congress Youth League, founded the EFF in 2013. The party has grown rapidly to become South Africa’s fourth-largest political force, capturing 9% of the national vote in last year’s general elections.
Known for his fiery rhetoric and populist stance, Malema has remained a polarizing figure. His calls for the expropriation of white-owned land without compensation and nationalization of key industries have attracted both fervent supporters and harsh critics.
Earlier this year, Malema appeared in a video used by U.S. President Donald Trump during a contentious meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa, in which Trump repeated the debunked claim of a “white genocide” in South Africa. The clip underscored how Malema’s outspoken politics continue to reverberate far beyond his country’s borders.
As Malema prepares for sentencing and a likely appeal, his conviction injects new uncertainty into South Africa’s volatile political landscape — and could reshape the future of one of its most disruptive political movements.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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