EFF leader Julius Malema is set to appear at a pre-sentencing hearing at the East London Magistrates’ Court on 23 January 2026, following a conviction related to the discharge of a firearm at his party’s fifth anniversary rally in 2018. The court date coincides with a parliamentary ad hoc committee meeting, which Malema will now miss.

Malema was found guilty of contravening the Firearms Control Act after firing a gun at the rally, held at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in the Eastern Cape. During a lengthy trial, he argued that he had wielded a “toy gun” with no live ammunition. However, Magistrate Twanet Olivier, in a detailed three-day judgment, concluded that Malema had unlawfully possessed firearms and ammunition. Malema’s bodyguard and co-accused, Adriaan Snyman, was found not guilty and discharged.

If sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of a fine, Malema could be barred from serving in the National Assembly for five years after completing his sentence, according to the Constitution. Legal experts note that such a development could significantly impact his political career and ambitions.

The case was brought to court by the Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum, which argued that Malema’s actions at the rally recklessly endangered lives. The prosecution relied in part on viral video footage showing Malema firing what appeared to be an assault rifle. Magistrate Olivier found the video admissible as authentic, supported by corroborating footage from events company Gearhouse.

The EFF has maintained that the charges are politically motivated. Malema himself has consistently framed the case as part of broader political attacks against him and his party. Nevertheless, the conviction has attracted widespread attention and debate over the intersection of politics and the rule of law in South Africa.

Parliamentary officials confirmed Malema will be excused from the ad hoc committee meeting to attend the court proceedings. The pre-sentencing hearing will allow both the defence and the state to present arguments that may influence the magistrate’s final decision, though the sentence itself will be delivered at a later date.