Julius Malema. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt / Maroela Media).
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says that although the state asked for the maximum sentence of 15 years, the NPA believes the verdict “will have the desired effect as a deterrent for future offenders in firearm-related offences, which occur all over the country”.
Malema was found guilty of, among other things, the illegal possession of a firearm, the illegal possession of ammunition, as well as fines of R20 000 each for firing a firearm in a built-up area and recklessly endangering persons or property.
The court ordered that the latter sentences be served concurrently with the five-year sentence.
Barry Madolo, director of public prosecutions in the Eastern Cape, says the verdict supports the principle of equality before the law.
The law is applied selectively – Fosa
The organization Forum for SA (Fosa) meanwhile said the case shows a “growing pattern of selective justice” in South Africa.
“Yes, offenses must be punished. No one is above the law. But justice in this country has become inconsistent, uneven and dangerously politicized,” says Fosa.
According to Fosa, South Africans are killed daily while criminals walk free and businesses collapse. “Files disappear. Families bury their loved ones while the justice system does nothing.”
The organization argues that the justice system “suddenly acts quickly” when it “suits certain agendas”.
“This is not justice. This is selective application of the law,” says Fosa.
The organization says the legal system should not be used as a weapon and that this will further undermine public trust.
“A legal system that only acts when it is politically convenient is not a legal system – it is an instrument of power.”
Fosa demands equal application of the law, consequences for violent criminals and a government that prioritizes the safety of its citizens.