Case Against Malema Is a Direct Attack On the EFF
KUGOMPO CITY – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) maintains that the case against its leader, Julius Malema, is a direct attack on the party.
This is the view of EFF Secretary-General Marshall Dlamini, who spoke to eNCA ahead of Malema’s pre-sentencing proceedings in the gun trial.
The much-awaited proceedings are expected to kick off in Komani in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday.
EFF supporters have already started arriving in Komani to rally behind the Red Berets leader.
Dlamini claimed the case is not only about Malema but is part of a broader effort to weaken the party.
“We know that it’s an old strategy that if you want to destroy an organisation, you must go for the leader of the organisation.
“So the members of the community, supporters and members of the EFF, came here in solidarity so that tomorrow morning we all go to court, because we know that there is no case against the president,” Dlamini said.
Malema’s legal team has argued for a lenient sentence, highlighting that he is a first-time offender and that his political and family commitments are mitigating factors that must be considered.
However, lobby group AfriForum, which is the complainant in the matter, and the state believe that leniency towards Malema would send the wrong message to the public.
Dlamini criticised this, saying it is a racially motivated case driven by AfriForum, and called for the matter to be dealt with speedily so that the party can focus on the upcoming local elections.
“We’ve got work to do. We’ve got a campaign to run. She must finish tomorrow and then give him that sentencing, and immediately we’re going to appeal that case,” he said/
In October 2025, Magistrate Twanet Olivier delivered the judgment.
She found the EFF leader guilty on all five counts relating to the Firearms Control Act. His co-accused, Adriaan Snyman, was acquitted of all charges.
The offence carries a maximum 15-year jail term.
He also faces the risk of being removed from Parliament.
