Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has vowed to take his legal battle to the highest court in the land after being convicted of unlawfully firing a firearm during the party’s 2018 anniversary rally. The dramatic judgment at the East London Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday sparked fiery scenes as Malema walked out to address hundreds of supporters chanting the controversial liberation struggle song, *“Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer.”*
## Conviction and Charges
The case against Malema stems from the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebrations at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane in 2018. Video footage presented in court captured Malema firing what appeared to be a high-calibre rifle into the air in front of thousands of cheering supporters.
He was subsequently charged under the Firearms Control Act with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public space, reckless endangerment, and failing to take necessary precautions to prevent danger.
Magistrate Twanet Olivier found Malema guilty on all five counts, ruling that the firearm was genuine and not a stage prop, as argued by the defence. She noted that the viral clip of the incident was not decisive to her ruling, since authenticated footage from Gearhouse — the event company contracted to film the rally — provided sufficient evidence.
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## Political Fallout
Moments after the ruling, Malema dismissed the judgment as racially and politically motivated. He pointed to the acquittal of his co-accused, former bodyguard Adriaan Snyman, who was accused of handing him the rifle.
“By releasing accused number two, the whole case should have collapsed. But the racist was looking for me,” Malema told his supporters. “This case is meant to appease AfriForum, to appease the Oval Office of Donald Trump, and to appease all white supremacists who want to undermine black dignity in South Africa.”
The case was initially laid by civil rights organisation AfriForum, which has frequently clashed with the EFF on issues of race, land, and minority rights.
## Appeal to Higher Courts
Undeterred, Malema declared that his legal fight was far from over. “We are going to the appeal, then to the Supreme Court, and ultimately to the Constitutional Court. We are not just fighting a case; we are fighting racism,” he said.
Invoking the language of struggle, he told supporters: “Revolutionaries going to prison or death is a badge of honour. We cannot be scared of prison, we cannot be scared to die for the revolution. We will never retreat from our ideas, and at the centre of those is land expropriation without compensation.”
## Next Steps
Malema’s bail was extended pending pre-sentencing proceedings scheduled for January 23, 2026. While the EFF leader has framed his conviction as part of a broader battle against racism and oppression, the judgment could carry significant legal and political consequences for both him and his party.
Outside court, the mood was defiant as supporters sang struggle songs and cheered his promise to continue fighting. For Malema and the EFF, the courtroom drama has become not just a legal matter but also a political rallying point in their ongoing campaign for radical land reform.
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