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Message: [QUOTE="Queen, post: 85016, member: 27"] 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 [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] Why were the streets packed [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] Airport and court energy [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] Why Malema is back before a magistrate [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] What the court ruled [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] The charges that stuck [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] What happened to the co-accused [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] Sentencing stakes [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] Why politics is on the line [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] What supporters did next [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] Security and crowd control [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] The bigger picture [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] [/QUOTE]

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