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(MENAFN) South African opposition politician Julius Malema has received a five-year prison sentence following an incident in which he discharged a firearm at a political rally nearly ten years ago. The ruling, if confirmed on appeal, could result in him losing his parliamentary seat, according to reports.

Malema, who leads the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was previously found guilty on multiple charges, including illegal possession of a firearm, firing a weapon in a public space, and reckless endangerment. The case originated from footage showing him firing a gun during the party’s fifth-anniversary celebration in Mdantsane, located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province in 2018.

Prosecutors had pushed for a significantly harsher penalty of 15 years in prison. However, the court in East London delivered a five-year sentence after rejecting arguments from the defense that the act was purely symbolic or celebratory in nature.

In its reasoning before sentencing, the court emphasized the broader implications of such conduct for public order and governance. The magistrate stated:

"It is clear that if crimes are allowed to go unchecked and unpunished, it poses a serious threat to our democratic state"

The ruling marks a major legal setback for Malema, whose political future now depends on the outcome of any appeal proceedings.

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