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Julius Malema Found Guilty in Firearm Discharge Case at 2018 EFF Rally

Published

8 hours ago

October 1, 2025

Chiraag

Julius Malema in court, East London magistrate courtroom, reaction outside court, political trial scene, verdict delivered, South African law, Joburg ETC

The verdict lands: Malema found guilty in firearm discharge case

When the gavel finally came down in the East London Magistrate’s Court, it marked a dramatic moment in one of South Africa’s longest-running legal dramas. Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, was found guilty of contravening the provisions of the Firearms Control Act. His security officer, Adriaan Snyman, was acquitted.

A story that’s been seven years in the making

The case stretches back to 2018, at the EFF’s fifth anniversary rally in Mdantsane. Video footage from that day allegedly showed a rifle being handed to Malema, who then fired shots into the air in front of thousands of party supporters.

Charges included unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public or built-up area, and reckless endangerment. Over the years, both sides offered fierce arguments: the State has maintained that the weapon was real and dangerous; the defence has insisted it was a prop or toy gun, meant only for show.

As the trial unfolded, expert testimony, ballistic analysis, video analysis, and intense legal wrangling became the norm. The courtroom became something of a spectacle itself, packed with supporters in red, tensions running high, and weeks spent rehashing every witness’s deposition.

The court speaks: defence can’t shake the case

Magistrate Twanet Olivier, in her judgment, said the defence failed to disprove the State’s evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. In short, the court accepted that there was sufficient proof to convict. Snyman, however, was judged not to have met that same burden of liability.

It’s a rare split verdict: one man convicted, the other freed. The ruling underscores how, under South African criminal law, guilt must be established clearly, and when it wasn’t, he walked free.

BREAKING: EFF leader Julius Malema has been found guilty on charges related to his firearm discharge case.

He has been convicted on charges of discharging live ammunition during a 2018 rally in Mdantsane.

His security officer Adriaan Snyman has been acquitted. @JusstAlpha pic.twitter.com/dogczGjqWq

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 1, 2025

Pulse of the public, chatter, shock, uproar

News feeds exploded the moment the announcement landed. On X, reactions ranged from calls for accountability to claims of political persecution. EFF supporters outside the courthouse had been singing, holding banners, and watching every moment in rapt silence before the ruling dropped.

Some legal commentators said the decision may reshape how high-profile political trials are conducted going forward. Others warned this verdict might inflame already heated partisan divides.

What this means going forward

For Malema, the stakes are steep. A conviction can carry heavy penalties, years in prison if the sentence is harsh. It also raises the possibility of removal from Parliament, should the sentence cross a certain threshold. The EFF will surely examine every legal avenue of appeal.

For politics in South Africa, this judgment serves as a touchstone. It’s a moment that reinforces the rule of law, but also one that invites scrutiny: was the defendant held to the same standard as any citizen? Will the appeals court confirm or overturn? And how will this affect the EFF’s momentum?