D-Day for Malema as EFF supporters flood East London ahead of sentencing

East London has become the political heartbeat of the country as Economic Freedom Fighters supporters rally behind their leader on the eve of a court decision that could change the trajectory of Julius Malema’s career.

The outspoken EFF president is set to appear at the East London Magistrate’s Court, where pre-sentencing proceedings will begin following his conviction on charges related to the unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless conduct that endangered lives.

A case years in the making

The case traces back to 2018, during a charged EFF gathering where Malema fired several shots into the air, allegedly to energise the crowd. What supporters viewed as political theatre, the court later deemed unlawful.

Malema was found guilty of contravening the Firearms Control Act, with the court ruling that he illegally possessed a firearm and acted recklessly. The conviction now places one of South Africa’s most visible opposition leaders in legal jeopardy and the stakes could hardly be higher.

04:00 – Current situation at the EFF Night Vigil, East London 📍😭♥️ #HandsOffMalema #HandsOffJuliusMalema #HandsOffCIC pic.twitter.com/RUSUlEfGWu

Fighter 🇵🇸 🇸🇩 (@NalediChirwa) January 23, 2026

East London on high alert

As Malema prepares to face sentencing, Eastern Cape police have been deployed in large numbers, bracing for mass gatherings and heightened emotions around the court precinct.

On Thursday night, thousands of EFF supporters marched through East London, holding a vigil in a show of loyalty to their “commander-in-chief.” The atmosphere was defiant rather than fearful, with party songs echoing through the city streets.

At the Orient Theatre, EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo led supporters in song ahead of the vigil a familiar scene for a party that thrives on mobilisation and spectacle.

3am in East London. Fighters are still awake at this hour to participate in the night vigil. #HandsOFFCICJuliusMalema #EFF pic.twitter.com/kE1FyiijIq

Aishah Cassiem (@CassiemAishah) January 23, 2026

EFF leadership draws a line

Inside the party, the message has been clear: the EFF is standing firm.

Secretary-general Marshall Dlamini struck a confrontational tone, urging the presiding magistrate, Twanet Olivier, to deliver the sentence without delay.

“We are going to defend this organisation,” Dlamini said, insisting the court should “say what it wants to say” so the party can decide its next move.

He stressed that, regardless of the outcome, Malema would continue leading the party’s work, declaring that the EFF leader would return to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela House to carry on what he called the struggle of the poor and landless.

Dlamini added that the party was “not worried” about the sentencing, a statement that has drawn mixed reactions online.

♦️Must Watch♦️

The EFF Secretary General @DlaminiMarshall in conversation with SABC News at the Night Vigil.

We will defend the organisation no matter what!#HandsOffMalema pic.twitter.com/GODL6fLiv2

Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) January 22, 2026

What’s at stake for Malema

Under the Firearms Control Act, the maximum sentence for Malema’s conviction is 15 years in prison, although many political observers believe a lighter penalty is more likely.

Still, the implications are serious. Political analyst Andre Duvenhage has warned that a harsh sentence could effectively end Malema’s parliamentary career.

If Malema is sentenced to more than one year in prison, he could lose his seat in Parliament, a development that would dramatically reshape opposition politics ahead of future elections.

Duvenhage suggested Malema may attempt prolonged legal battles, similar to strategies used by former president Jacob Zuma, but noted that such an approach would not be easy.

A familiar claim of political targeting

Malema has consistently maintained that the case against him is politically motivated, arguing that the law is being used to silence his radical views and blunt the EFF’s momentum.

That belief resonates strongly with his supporters, many of whom have taken to social media claiming selective prosecution and warning of unrest should Malema be jailed. Critics, however, argue the case is a straightforward test of whether political leaders are above the law.

A defining moment

As the court prepares to hear arguments on sentencing, South Africa watches closely. For Malema, this is more than a legal battle, it is a defining political moment.

Whether he walks away with a fine, a suspended sentence, or something far more severe, the outcome will reverberate well beyond the courtroom walls. One thing is certain: Julius Malema, once again, has placed himself at the centre of the national conversation.

{Source: The Citizen}

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