Julius Malema | Sentencing begins Wednesday

Sentencing proceedings in Julius Malema’s firearms case are expected to begin on Wednesday in the Magistrate’s Court in KuGompo City (formerly East London).

Magistrate Twanette Olivier, who is hearing the case, is expected to deliver a verdict on Thursday.

Malema took to social media on Tuesday and said he would challenge the court’s findings and apply for leave to appeal against his conviction.

“It does not matter if I am guilty or if I am sent to prison. Everything this court finds will be appealed. The outcome of the case does not bother me and will not bother me. I was found guilty because of emotional choices and reactions, not because the law can prove it.

“If I am going to apply for leave to appeal, the magistrate’s judgment will be checked by an external person. There are no emotions and her judgment must be in line with the law,” says Malema.

Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s chief spokesperson for community safety, says the magistrate has already proven that no one is above the law.

“The sentence must now also, regardless of Malema’s political status, reflect the seriousness of the crime,” says Broodryk.

EFF leader Julius Malema in court in East London. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/Maroela Media)

The leader of the EFF was found guilty in October last year on five charges against him relating to the breach of the Firearms Control Act.

Adriaan Snyman, Malema’s former bodyguard and the owner of a private security firm that provided services to the EFF at the time of the incident, was also prosecuted but acquitted.

The charges against Malema stem from an incident when he fired a firearm during the party’s fifth birthday celebration at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane in 2018. AfriForum subsequently filed a complaint.

Shortly after the EFF’s birthday celebration, a video of the incident was widely distributed on social media. In this, Snyman could be seen handing the weapon to Malema and the EFF leader allegedly firing it.

Julius Malema and Adriaan Snyman in court. (Archive photo: EFF/X)

Malema is on trial on charges of discharging a firearm in a built-up area, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, failure to take reasonable precautions for person or property and reckless endangerment of person or property.

Some of these offenses carry a minimum sentence of as much as 15 years.

If Malema is sent to prison for more than 12 months without the option of a fine, he will lose his position in parliament.

Maroela Media previously reported that Jessie-Ann Thompson, a social worker from Johannesburg, testified in January in mitigation of punishment in the pre-sentence proceedings in the case against Malema.

She was the defense’s only witness in mitigation. Thompson gave detailed evidence about Malema’s mental health, family background and other social factors that the court will consider during sentencing.

His legal team also asked the court for a lighter sentence as he is a first offender and has not been involved in any crime in the seven years since this incident.

(Photo: Elisma van der Watt/Maroela Media)

Road closures

The Buffalo City Metro confirmed in a statement on Tuesday afternoon that several main roads in East London will be closed from Wednesday to Thursday evening. Thousands of EFF supporters marched to the Jan Smuts Stadium on Tuesday evening for a special vigil before Malema’s sentencing.

The metro has advised motorists to use alternative routes, to be vigilant and has given the assurance that traffic officers will be visible everywhere to prevent traffic congestion.

Malema’s supporters are expected to walk from the stadium to the courthouse on Wednesday.

• The route looks like this: Leave the stadium and turn left into Recreation Road, right into Commercial Road, left into Cambridge Street, cross Fleet Street, turn right into Commissioner Road and end in front of the court.
• Intersections affected by the closures: Buffalo and Fleet, Church and Buffalo, Oxford and Commissioner streets.