THEY SENTENCED HIM TO 5 YEARS — BUT JULIUS MALEMA IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE
THEY SENTENCED HIM TO 5 YEARS — BUT JULIUS MALEMA IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE
On April 16, 2026, a South African court sentenced Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema to five years in prison for unlawfully discharging a firearm at an EFF rally in 2018.
But here is what they did not expect.
Within minutes of that sentence being read out Malema’s legal team was on their feet. They applied for leave to appeal. The court granted it.
Julius Malema walked out of that courtroom a free man. Greeted by hundreds of red-clad EFF supporters singing revolutionary songs, fists raised, voices loud.
Because you cannot jail a movement.
This is a man who has spent his entire life fighting for the landless, the poor and the forgotten black majority of South Africa. A man who has stood against white supremacy, against economic apartheid and against every force that has tried to keep Africa’s people down.
Malema himself said it best outside the court:
“They are trying by all means to silence this voice. They will never win.”
His conviction stands for now but the five year sentence is under appeal. His parliamentary seat remains intact.
His voice remains loud.
His people remain behind him.
Africa has seen this before.
They jailed Mandela for 27 years trying to silence the revolution.
It did not work then.
It will not work now.
African hype media