Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has been granted leave to appeal his firearm convictions and five-year prison sentence, giving him another opportunity to challenge the outcome of his long-running firearm case.
Also see: Julius Malema granted leave to appeal 5-year sentence
The decision was handed down by the Eastern Cape High Court in Makhanda on Monday, 28 September 2026. Justices Tokota and Lowe found compelling reasons for the matter to be heard by a Full Bench of the High Court.
The development means Julius can now challenge both his conviction and sentence before a Full Bench of the Eastern Cape Division. The appeal hearing date has not yet been set, reported Scrolla.Africa.
Julius Malema’s firearm case
The case stems from the EFF’s fifth-anniversary celebrations at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane in July 2018, where video footage showed Julius firing what prosecutors identified as a rifle into the air.
Julius was convicted in October 2025 on five firearm-related charges: unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area, failure to take reasonable precautions to avoid danger to people or property, and reckless endangerment.
Julius has maintained that the firearm was a toy. His legal team has also challenged aspects of the evidence used to secure his convictions. Court papers filed earlier this year argued, among other things, that no witness directly saw Julius fire the weapon and that there was no fingerprint or DNA evidence linking him to the firearm or spent cartridge.
[BREAKING] The High Court in Makhanda has granted EFF Leader, Julius Malema leave to appeal his conviction in his firearm case. He was sentenced to five years direct imprisonment by the East London Magistrates Court in April. @Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/GTteiAEZ19
— Zoleka Qodashe (@ZOLEKV_Q) September 29, 2026
Also see: Gareth Cliff warns Julius Malema after prison sentence
Five-year sentence
In April 2026, the East London Regional Court sentenced Julius to an effective five years in prison for the firearm-related offences.
The court imposed five years for unlawful possession of a firearm and two years for unlawful possession of ammunition, with the remaining sentences running concurrently. Julius was also fined R20,000 on each of three other counts, with imprisonment available as an alternative.
At the time, the magistrates’ court granted Julius leave to appeal his sentence, but refused leave to appeal his convictions. He subsequently approached the High Court in Makhanda seeking permission to challenge the convictions as well.
Case now goes to Full Bench
The Makhanda High Court has now opened the way for the conviction appeal to proceed. The judges found sufficient grounds for the matter to be considered by a Full Bench of the Eastern Cape High Court, reported SA People.
Julius has not begun serving his five-year sentence while the appeal process continues. The latest order does not specify when the Full Bench will hear the matter.
The appeal process means the court will now have another opportunity to consider the legal challenges surrounding Julius’s convictions and sentence before the matter reaches a conclusion.
Also see: Ngizwe Mchunu refuses to apologise to Julius Malema after court ruling
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp channel for content worth tapping into. Click here to join!
