Julius Malema hits East London as EFF reds swarm firearm sentencing

Red shirts took over East London as Julius Malema flew in for court, turning a legal headache into a street-level show of force.

What people saw first

• East London CBD filled up fast with EFF supporters dressed head to toe in red.
• Singing, marching, flags waving, the whole city center felt occupied.
• The timing matched Malema boarding a flight to Buffalo City.

Why were the streets packed

• Julius Malema is due back in court.
• Supporters framed the moment as defending the leader, defending everyone.
• Currie Street became the main artery for the march.

Airport and court energy

• Another group camped outside East London Airport waiting for Malema’s arrival.
• The destination is the East London Magistrates’ Court.
• Pre-sentencing proceedings are about to start.

Why Malema is back before a magistrate

• He was convicted in 2025 on multiple firearm-related offences.
• The case goes back to 2018 during the EFF’s fifth birthday celebration.
• That event happened at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.

What the court ruled

• The court said Malema took an assault rifle from his former bodyguard.
• Shots were fired into the air during the celebration.
• Claims that the weapon was a toy or firing blanks were rejected.

The charges that stuck

• Unlawful possession of a firearm.
• Unlawful possession of ammunition.
• Firing a weapon in a built-up or public area.
• Reckless endangerment of people or property.

What happened to the co-accused

• Adriaan Snyman, the former bodyguard, was cleared of all charges.
• That included allegations tied to providing the weapon and failing to prevent danger.
• The legal spotlight stayed squarely on Malema.

Sentencing stakes

• Sentencing proceedings are set to begin on Friday, 23 January.
• The Criminal Law Amendment Act sets a possible 15-year minimum for certain firearm offences.
• The court can go lower if compelling circumstances are proven.

Why politics is on the line

• A prison sentence longer than 12 months without a fine would sideline Malema as an MP for five years.
• A fine or suspended sentence keeps him in Parliament.
• The ruling has consequences well beyond the courtroom.

What supporters did next

• After marching, EFF members regrouped at the Orient Theatre on the beachfront.
• A night vigil followed, turning support into an overnight presence.
• The message was persistent, not a one-day spectacle.

Security and crowd control

• Public Order Policing was placed on standby outside the court.
• Parts of Buffalo Street were closed off.
• A temporary stage went up near the court, likely for Malema to address supporters.

The bigger picture

• The legal process is tightening, but the political theater is just as loud.
• Court day is shaping up as both a sentencing milestone and a mass rally moment.