The sentencing of EFF leader Julius Malema for discharging a firearm in public has been postponed to tomorrow in the East London Magistrate’s Court, reports The Witness.

Malema’s sentencing was scheduled for today, but after arguments from both the state and the defence, the presiding officer, Magistrate Twanet Olivier, said she needed more time to draft the sentence.

During today’s proceedings, the state insisted that EFF leader Julius Malema should get a prison sentence for discharging a firearm in the midst of a large crowd gathered for an EFF rally in East London‘s Mdantsane township in 2018.

State prosecutor Advocate Joel Cesar told the court that as an MP and party leader, Malema by behaving in the manner he did, set a bad precedent, particularly for young people and his followers.

“The accused has a huge following. Young people will emulate this type of behaviour. He has created an impression that this kind of behaviour is acceptable.”

‘He is a lawmaker, yet he is the one who broke the law. His intention was clear: he was going to do whatever he wanted to do irrespective of the danger such conduct posed to people,” he said.

For discharging a firearm and putting the lives of the about 20 000 people who were gathered for the EFF event, Cesar said, Malema deserved a prison sentence of between seven and fifteen years.

The case stems from a 2018 incident where Malema, during an EFF event in East London, fired the gun of a bodyguard into the air.

Earlier today, Malema’s lawyer, Advocate Laurance Hodes, told the East London Magistrate’s Court that imposing a jail sentence on him for possessing and discharging a firearm for ‘celebratory purposes’ would be contrary to the law.

Sending Malema to jail, Hodes said, would be grossly harsh given that the EFF leader did not use the firearm in the commission of a crime.

“There were no injuries sustained or damage to property. Also, he didn’t possess the firearm for a long period of time, it was for a brief period,” he said.

A 15-year jail sentence, Hodes said, would have been appropriate had Malema used the firearm to commit serious offences such as murder or robbery.

Heavy security was deployed around the court precinct today, with roads cordoned off.

As the sentencing proceedings unfolded inside the court, throngs of EFF supporters gathered outside to lend support to their leader.

Malema, who is also an EFF MP, is expected to address the EFF supporters upon the conclusion of the court proceedings.

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