This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79vj85px54o
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Julius Malema: South African firebrand MP convicted of firing a gun in public | Julius Malema: South African firebrand MP convicted of firing a gun in public |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema was recently convicted of hate speech | Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema was recently convicted of hate speech |
| South African opposition politician Julius Malema has been found guilty of discharging a firearm in public seven years ago - an offence which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. | |
| In 2018, a video emerged showing the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader firing several shots in the air during his party's fifth anniversary celebrations held in the country's Eastern Cape province. | In 2018, a video emerged showing the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader firing several shots in the air during his party's fifth anniversary celebrations held in the country's Eastern Cape province. |
| He was charged alongside his former bodyguard Adriaan Snyman, who was acquitted. | He was charged alongside his former bodyguard Adriaan Snyman, who was acquitted. |
| Malema was convicted of hate speech less than two months ago and often lashes out at the white minority in a country where, 31 years after apartheid ended, racial tensions still run high. | |
| He has called for the seizure of white-owned land and argues that more should be done to transfer wealth to the black majority. | |
| Malema was convicted of five offences, including the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging it in a public space and reckless endangerment. The first charge carries a maximum 15-year sentence. | Malema was convicted of five offences, including the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging it in a public space and reckless endangerment. The first charge carries a maximum 15-year sentence. |
| He was accused of firing between 14 and 15 live rounds on a stage in front of 20,000 EFF supporters, according to South African news site SowetanLIVE. | He was accused of firing between 14 and 15 live rounds on a stage in front of 20,000 EFF supporters, according to South African news site SowetanLIVE. |
| In his defence, Malema told the court the firearm was not his and that he had fired the shots to rouse the crowd, the publication added. | In his defence, Malema told the court the firearm was not his and that he had fired the shots to rouse the crowd, the publication added. |
| It took three days for magistrate Twanet Olivier to tell Malema "you are found guilty as charged". The case was postponed to January 2026 for pre-sentencing. | It took three days for magistrate Twanet Olivier to tell Malema "you are found guilty as charged". The case was postponed to January 2026 for pre-sentencing. |
| Malema's prosecution came after Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum, which has a contentious relationship with Malema and the EFF, opened a case against him after the video went viral. | Malema's prosecution came after Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum, which has a contentious relationship with Malema and the EFF, opened a case against him after the video went viral. |
| AfriForum was also among those who laid a hate speech complaint against the EFF MP at South Africa's Human Rights Commission. | AfriForum was also among those who laid a hate speech complaint against the EFF MP at South Africa's Human Rights Commission. |
| This resulted in his conviction by the country's equality court in August this year. | This resulted in his conviction by the country's equality court in August this year. |
| After an incident where a white man allegedly assaulted an EFF member, Malema said: "No white man is going to beat me up... you must never be scared to kill. A revolution demands that at some point there must be killing." | After an incident where a white man allegedly assaulted an EFF member, Malema said: "No white man is going to beat me up... you must never be scared to kill. A revolution demands that at some point there must be killing." |
| The equality court ruled that these remarks "demonstrated an intent to incite harm", but the EFF said they were taken out of context. | The equality court ruled that these remarks "demonstrated an intent to incite harm", but the EFF said they were taken out of context. |
| More BBC stories on South Africa: | More BBC stories on South Africa: |
| South Africa's firebrand MP found guilty of hate speech | South Africa's firebrand MP found guilty of hate speech |
| South Africa minister under fire over racial slur | South Africa minister under fire over racial slur |
| Top policeman shakes South Africa with explosive allegations | Top policeman shakes South Africa with explosive allegations |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |
| This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. | This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. |
| You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts. | You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts. |