EFF leader Julius Malema’s five-year prison sentence for a 2018 incident at an EFF rally in Mdantsane has been described by legal experts as excessive, with some warning that it could be increased to as much as 10 years if a higher court finds the magistrate was “too lenient.”
Some experts say that, if a higher court reaches that conclusion, it may impose a harsher sentence on appeal.
Malema was sentenced on Thursday by Magistrate Twanet Olivier in the East London Magistrate’s Court in KuGompo City.
He was, however, released on warning after filing an immediate appeal.
The State had argued for a harsher penalty. Prosecutor Advocate Joel Cesar asked the court to impose a sentence of up to 15 years’ imprisonment, or alternatively 10 years with three years suspended, along with fines on the remaining counts.
Malema was convicted in October 2025 on five counts under the Firearms Control Act.
The charges relate to a 2018 EFF rally at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, where he was seen on video firing what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle into the air before a crowd of about 20,000 supporters.
The firearm belonged to a security company linked to his former bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, who was acquitted due to a lack of evidence.
The court heard that Snyman handed the weapon to Malema during the event.
Malema has consistently maintained that the firearm was a prop or blank gun and not capable of firing live ammunition.
Top Durban advocate Paul Jorgenson said that wule Malema’s decision to appeal his sentence was a “no brainer” there was a strong possibility the appeal court could significantly alter the outcome.
Jorgenson said that on appeal, Malema’s five-year prison sentence could potentially be replaced with a fine or a suspended sentence. He also questioned whether the trial court fully considered alternative sentencing options, saying: “I mean did the magistrate even consider correctional supervision.”
In his view, the sentence could ultimately be set aside by a higher court. However, he cautioned that the State may also pursue a cross-appeal seeking a harsher punishment.
“That is a strong possibility,” Jorgenson said, referring to the chance of a reduced or non-custodial sentence on appeal, while noting that the legal process could still work in either direction depending on arguments presented by both sides.
Speaking to IOL News, legal expert Malesela Komape of Komape Incorporated Attorneys said the sentence was “far-fetched” and likely to be overturned or reduced on appeal.
“The defence has shown that previous authorities support a non-custodial sentence in cases like this,” he said.
“A five-year direct imprisonment is excessive, and there is a strong possibility that Mr Malema will succeed on appeal.”
Komape said the High Court would examine whether the magistrate erred in both conviction and sentencing.
He pointed to inconsistencies in the treatment of the co-accused, saying that Snyman was initially found to have a case to answer under Section 174 but was later acquitted.
*This article was first published by IOL News
While Kieswetter will soon be hanging up his robe as the country’s chief tax collector, he maintains that the work of strengthening South African institutions is far from over.
Outgoing South African Revenue Service (SARS) Edward Kieswetter said that the government has failed to get a grip on the illicit economy because its law enforcement agencies have not been working as a collective.
Speaking on the sidelines of his graduation at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology on Friday where he received an honorary doctorate in Business and Management Sciences, Kieswetter noted that this type of corruption is deeply systemic. He argued that the current transactional approach to tackling the issue is simply not working.
While Kieswetter will soon be hanging up his robe as the country’s chief tax collector, he maintains that the work of strengthening South African institutions is far from over. A primary focus of this work must remain the clampdown on the illicit economy.
"Why have we failed in addressing it? We failed because we have largely followed a transactional approach. There’s no collaboration."
The scale of the challenge is significant. New research from the University of Cape Town revealed that as much as 60% of the cigarettes sold during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 were illegal.
Kieswetter warned that bolstering the resources of law enforcement agencies alone will not be enough to break the cycle of organised syndicates if the fundamental method of work remains unchanged.
"All of us have to work in a collaborative way to address the same phenomena," he said.
Despite the grim outlook, Kieswetter noted a potential turning point. Following discussions with the President and the Ministers of Finance, Police, and Defence, he believes there is now a genuine commitment to changing the national approach to tackling the problem.
*This article was first published by EWN
By JN Reporter
The ANC in the Thabo Mofutsanyana region has retained its entire Top 5 leadership unopposed, delivering a clean sweep that signals a show of unity at a closely watched regional conference.
The uncontested outcome follows a tense build-up marked by disputes over branch audits and delegate credentials, which had cast doubt on whether the gathering would proceed smoothly. While the result points to a consolidation of leadership and a degree of stability, concerns linger over whether underlying divisions have been fully resolved.
The conference concluded in the early hours of Sunday with the formal confirmation of the region’s top five officials. Former regional chairperson Thabo Mokoena, his deputy Conny Msibi, regional secretary Jeff Mohapi, deputy regional secretary Phoka Mofokeng, and regional treasurer Malekula Melato all retained their positions after no nominations were received from the floor.
Reacting to his re-election, Mokoena said the leadership would prioritise turning around the struggling Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, acknowledging that significant work remains to improve governance and service delivery.
His remarks echo warnings from NEC deployee Dr Zweli Mkhize, who cautioned in his opening address that the party is at confronted with a risk of losing power “completely” due to political instability, incompetence, corruption, and poor service delivery.
“We are not satisfied with the state of Maluti-a-Phofung. There is still a great deal to be done in infrastructure, refuse removal, pothole repairs, and the provision of water and electricity,” Mokoena said.
The municipality recently elected a new mayor, Tumelo Thebe, following the removal of former mayor Malekula Melato through a motion of no confidence.
Weather conditions and UVB forecast in South Africa’s provinces
Gauteng
Gauteng can expect cloudy and cool with scattered showers and thundershowers. It will be warm in the extreme north.
The expected UVB Sunburn Index is High
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga, the Place of the Rising Sun, can expect cloudy with scattered showers and thundershowers over the western Highveld, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Limpopo
In Limpopo, partly cloudy and warm with isolated showers and thundershowers but scattered over the western parts.
North West
North West, known as Bokone Bophirima in Setswana, can expect cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers, but scattered in the east.
Free State
In Free State, cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers.
Northern Cape
The day will start partly cloudy and cold to cool. The wind along the coast will be light northerly, becoming westerly from the afternoon
Western Cape
Cloudy and cool with isolated to scattered showers and rain in the south-west, otherwise partly cloudy. It will become fine in the west. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh south-westerly in the south-west in the morning, otherwise westerly to north-westerly.
The expected UVB sunburn index is Low
Eastern Cape
The Western half: Partly cloudy at first, otherwise fine and cool. The wind along the coast will be fresh to strong westerly at first, becoming moderate from late morning.
The Eastern half: Partly cloudy and cool but cold in the north. The wind along the coast will be fresh south-westerly, becoming moderate from late morning.
KwaZulu-Natal
Morning fog patches in the northern parts, otherwise partly cloudy and warm with isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers. It will be hot in places in the north-east. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh northerly to north-easterly in the north in the morning, otherwise southerly to south-westerly.
The expected UVB Sunburn Index is High.
*This article was first published by sapeople.com
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for urgent global action to tackle inequality, warning that it poses a direct threat to democracy and social justice worldwide.
Speaking at the “In Defence of Democracy” initiative in Barcelona, Ramaphosa addressed an audience of global leaders, including Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, urging a united effort to confront widening disparities.
“It is essential that we intensify the struggle for equality and social justice,” Ramaphosa said.
“We are gathered not merely to defend democracy but to build democracy, but more importantly to advance democracy.”
The president emphasised that inequality remains one of the most pressing global challenges, but stressed that it is not unavoidable.
Citing findings from a global inequality report commissioned during South Africa’s G20 Presidency and led by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, Ramaphosa said: “Inequality is neither inevitable nor interminable. By the policies we adopt and the actions we take, we can end inequality.”
Central to South Africa’s proposal is the creation of an International Panel on Inequality, a body inspired by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
According to Ramaphosa, the panel would “monitor trends and assess drivers and consequences of inequality” while evaluating policy solutions to guide governments and the international community.
South Africa, with the backing of the African Union, plans to table a draft resolution at the United Nations General Assembly later this year to formalise the panel’s establishment.
“This will ensure that inequality is placed as a critical issue on the global agenda that requires the ongoing attention of world leaders,” Ramaphosa said, calling on all UN member states to support the initiative.
The president also acknowledged South Africa’s own deep structural inequalities, describing the country as “possibly the most unequal society in the world,” a legacy of apartheid.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing these disparities while encouraging international cooperation.
“We have the determination and the means to end inequality. Now we must act,” he said.
“This is the time for us to lead the world to address inequality.”
The address formed part of Ramaphosa’s working visit to Spain, where global leaders are engaging on strengthening democratic systems amid rising extremism and economic inequality.
*This article was first published by IOL News
Residents of Seven Miles village in Kuruman, Northern Cape, say they live in fear every time it rains as flooding has plagued the area for over a year, and authorities have done very little to alleviate the situation.
They claim that water remains trapped in their yards and around their homes, posting serious health and safety risks to community members.
“Our houses are still surrounded by water. Even after the recent rains, nothing has been done. We are suffering,” said community member Christopher Keehang.
He said the situation had persisted since last year, with recent Good Friday rains worsening the flooding.
Residents stated that although funding had previously been approved through SOIC, progress has stalled, allegedly due to disputes involving the local municipality.
Keehang further claimed that political interference and administrative delays have prevented meaningful relief and infrastructure work.
“We were told there is funding, but our municipality wants to be involved, and nothing is happening. It feels like processes are delayed for the wrong reasons while people continue to suffer,” he said.
Although humanitarian groups, including the Red Cross, have visited the area, their presence has not resulted in lasting relief, according to residents.
They are now appealing for urgent intervention from authorities and independent organisations.
“When it rains, we are scared. We have to think about finding somewhere else to stay for safety. We cannot keep living like this,” Keehang added.
“We are asking for help from anyone who can assist us without politics. Our situation is not improving, and we need urgent action,” he concluded.
*This article was first published by IOL News
