Julius Malema returned to court on Wednesday as prosecutors pressed for a prison sentence in the firearm case tied to a 2018 rally, putting fresh pressure on one of South Africa’s most prominent opposition leaders.

According to a Reuters report, the state argued for the maximum sentence while Malema’s legal team asked the court to consider a lighter penalty.

Malema was convicted in October 2025 on charges including unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area, and reckless endangerment, according to the National Prosecuting Authority. South Africa’s SABC News also reported that the case stems from the EFF’s fifth-anniversary rally in Mdantsane in 2018, where Malema was accused of firing a rifle in public.

The sentencing phase has become a major political test because any custodial term of more than 12 months, once all appeals are exhausted, could threaten Malema’s place in parliament. Prosecutors told the court that a non-custodial outcome would send the wrong message, while the defence argued the act was celebratory and not intended to harm anyone.

The court adjourned proceedings to Thursday, when the next step in the sentencing process is expected. Malema told supporters outside the court that he would challenge whatever sentence is handed down.

Source:Reuters report