- Malema was convicted in October of firing a gun in public, reckless endangerment and unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition.
- His legal team brought in advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi and a social worker testified about his mental health and family background.
Julius Malema appeared at the East London Magistrate’s Court on Friday for pre-sentencing. The EFF leader is fighting to avoid jail time after being found guilty of gun-related charges in October.
The case stems from a 2018 incident in Mdantsane. Malema was seen on video shooting into the air during an EFF rally. The party was celebrating its fifth birthday at the time of the incident.
He was convicted on four separate charges. These included firing a gun in public and reckless endangerment. He was also found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
To fight for a lighter sentence, his legal team has brought in well-known advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi. They also called a social worker to testify in court about various aspects of Malema’s life and circumstances.
The social worker spoke about Malema’s mental health and family background. She also discussed other personal details about the EFF leader. These testimonies form part of the defence arguments to reduce the sentence he faces.
The defence team submitted a full pre-sentencing report to the court. The report was presented for the magistrate’s consideration during the sentencing phase.
Hundreds of supporters turned out to back their leader outside the court building. According to the party’s Eastern Cape secretary Simthembile Madikizela, at least 500 EFF members were invited to attend the court appearance in East London.
Around 80 buses transported supporters to the city from all over the country. Police closed roads near the court as large crowds dressed in red filled the area outside the building. They sang and chanted in support of Malema.
The EFF leader has said he plans to appeal the conviction and ruling. He will take the case all the way to the Constitutional Court if it becomes necessary.
The court adjourned for lunch on Friday. Pre-sentencing proceedings are expected to continue later in the day.
Pictured above: Economic Freedom Fighters supporters in East London ahead of Malema’s sentencing.
Image source: Economic Freedom Fighters/Facebook Page
