East London, SOUTH AFRICA – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has issued an urgent appeal for discipline among his supporters as a South African magistrate prepares to deliver his sentence on Thursday.
Okay News gathered that Malema appeared in the East London Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, for pre-sentencing proceedings. The case stems from a 2018 incident where the political leader was caught on camera firing a high-caliber weapon during the EFF’s fifth-anniversary celebrations. He was found guilty last year of contravening the Firearms Control Act.
The atmosphere around the court precinct was electric on Wednesday, with hundreds of EFF supporters marching from Jan Smuts Stadium to the courthouse. Amid a heavy police presence and barricaded streets, supporters sang revolutionary songs and watched the proceedings on giant screens. Some followers warned that “all hell will break loose” if Malema receives a custodial (prison) sentence, leading to fears of potential looting and unrest in Gauteng and East London.
During the session, Malema’s lead counsel, Advocate Thembeka Ngcukaitobi, argued for a non-custodial sentence, maintaining that a fine or suspended sentence would be more appropriate. However, the magistrate, Twanet Olivier, postponed the final sentencing until Thursday, April 16, a move that sparked visible dissatisfaction among party leadership and Malema’s family.
Addressing the crowd after the adjournment, Malema struck a defiant but cautionary tone. While he accused the civil rights group AfriForum of being behind a “political persecution” to silence black voices, he warned his followers against ill-disciplined violence. He confirmed that EFF members would remain camped outside courts nationwide until the judgment is delivered, stating he is “too old to be shaken” by the legal battle.
