S/A: Malema sentenced to five years imprisonment over rally gunfire

South Africa Opposition leader Julius Malema was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday for firing a rifle into the air at a political rally. The ruling by a KuGompo City magistrate could potentially bar the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader from serving in Parliament.

Soon after the sentencing, Malema was granted leave to appeal and released on a warning. He will remain free until the case is heard by the High Court.

Outside the courtroom, hundreds of supporters wearing the party's signature red berets gathered to protest the judgment, which they claim is politically motivated. Malema, 45, remains one of South Africa’s most influential and controversial figures as this legal battle moves to the next stage.