By Charmaine Ndlela and Thapelo Molefe
A prison term for EFF Julius Malema over his firearm conviction would be “shockingly inappropriate”, his defence told the KuGompo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, as the State argued for a direct custodial sentence.
Final sentencing arguments are being heard after Malema was convicted on five firearm-related charges related to the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebrations in Mdantsane in 2018, where he was filmed firing a rifle into the air before a crowd.
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Malema was found guilty last year of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area, failure to take reasonable precautions to protect people or property, and reckless endangerment.
Arguing against a custodial sentence, defence advocate Laurance Hodes, SC, said the incident was brief, caused no injuries and formed part of a single
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