Wednesday, October 1, 2025 - South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has been found guilty of contravening South Africa’s Firearms Control Act after firing a gun during a public rally.
The ruling came from the East London Magistrate’s Court,
where Magistrate Twanet Olivier delivered the judgment following a lengthy
trial. The case stemmed from the EFF’s fifth-anniversary celebration in 2018 at
Sisa Dukashe Stadium, Mdantsane, where viral footage showed Malema being handed
what appeared to be a rifle by his then-bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, before
discharging it into the air before cheering supporters.
Malema’s defence team argued the firearm was only a toy
prop used for dramatic effect. However, the court dismissed this claim, citing
visual evidence and multiple witness testimonies as decisive in proving the
case beyond reasonable doubt.
Magistrate Olivier emphasized that there was no sign of
bias in the state witnesses’ testimonies, reinforcing confidence in the
credibility of the prosecution’s case.
Alongside Malema, his former bodyguard Adriaan Snyman was
also charged for unlawfully providing the weapon and faced additional counts of
unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The conviction concludes a years-long legal battle
triggered by the high-profile incident, which drew widespread attention both
nationally and internationally. Sentencing details are expected to follow.
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