South Africa’s political firebrand Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison for possession of firearm and discharging it in public eight years ago.
Shortly after Thursday’s sentencing Malema’s lawyers said they would appeal the case at the constitutional court, the highest court in South Africa.
The head of the Economic Freedom Fighters party was convicted last year on multiple charges under South Africa’s Firearms Control Act.
It included being in unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging it in public during an EEF rally in Mdantsane in July 2018 to mark the party’s fifth anniversary.
Malema was seen firing shots into the air in front of a crowd.
This is a developing story
WN/as/APA