Cape Town – The EFF’s student wing has warned that South Africa could be “rendered ungovernable” if Julius Malema is sentenced to prison in his firearm case.
According to IOL, the comments came ahead of Malema’s sentencing proceedings in the East London/Kugompo City Magistrate’s Court, where he was convicted of unlawfully discharging a firearm at an EFF rally in 2018.
The state is seeking a sentence of up to 15 years, while the EFF says it will immediately appeal any custodial sentence and oppose harsh punishment.
“If the commander-in-chief is jailed, we are going to render the country ungovernable,” the report quoted Mahlatse Dlamini, chairperson of the UCT EFF Youth Command, as saying on Tuesday night.
“They can jail the liberator, but they can’t jail the liberation.
“If they want to kill the revolution, they will have to arrest millions of us.”
The EFF leader’s co-accused, Adriaan Snyman, was acquitted, and the case stems from charges including unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment.
Malema maintains the case is politically motivated and has vowed to fight the outcome, saying, according to SABC News: “If they send me to prison, I will appeal, immediately. I will have a team in Bhisho and a team in East London, the same day. Once she says so, whatever, yes, then we put in a leave to appeal. Once she rejects it, the Bhisho team will petition the High Court and then send us proof that they’ve already petitioned the High Court.
He has also questioned the legitimacy of the ruling.
“Any ruling that is unjust, any ruling that doesn’t follow the law and the Constitution doesn’t deserve our respect,” EWN quoted him as saying.
As reported by The Citizen, he insists an appeal would allow him to remain in Parliament and has pledged to stay active in politics regardless of the outcome, while EFF supporters prepare to follow proceedings at a stadium gathering.
“I even said before the jail term that I am going to appeal this matter; so your immediate fears must be cleared. Once I appeal, the jail sentence they imposed on me is suspended,” the report quoted him as saying.
“Now, if they impose a jail sentence that is longer than 12 months without an option of a fine, I will not qualify to be a member of parliament, but once I appeal that, it suspends that thing. I continue those duties as a member of parliament as a member of the ethics committee, and as a member of the Judicial Services Commission (JCS).
“But even if they succeed in removing me, I have a home here called Winnie [Madikizela-Mandela] House. That is where the people’s parliament is, and that is where I will go and serve in the people’s parliament,” he claimed.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: X/@NalediChirwa
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
