The National Prosecuting Authority has strongly opposed efforts by Julius Malema to overturn his firearms conviction, describing several of the arguments raised in his appeal as “absurd”.
The dispute forms part of Malema’s ongoing legal battle stemming from a 2018 incident at the Economic Freedom Fighters’ fifth-anniversary celebrations in Mdantsane, where he was filmed firing what the court later found to be a real firearm.
In court papers, the State argues that Malema’s legal team has failed to present compelling reasons why the conviction should be overturned. Prosecutors maintain that the evidence presented during the trial was sufficient to prove the offences beyond a reasonable doubt.
Malema was convicted on charges relating to the unlawful possession and discharge of a firearm following the widely circulated video of the incident. The conviction led to a five-year prison sentence, although he was subsequently granted leave to appeal his sentence.
The State has also rejected claims made by the defence regarding the nature of the firearm used during the incident, insisting that the trial court carefully considered all the evidence before reaching its verdict.
The matter remains one of the most high-profile criminal cases involving a South African political leader. Should Malema ultimately fail in his appeal attempts, the outcome could have significant political and legal consequences.
Malema and the EFF have consistently maintained that the prosecution is politically motivated and have vowed to continue challenging the conviction through the courts.
