Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters party, sits in a courtroom during sentencing for firing a rifle at a political rally, in East London, South Africa, Thursday, April 16, 2026.

South African opposition politician Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of the illegal possession of a gun and firing it in public.

The state had been seeking the maximum 15-year jail term for Malema, who was found guilty in October.