The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday welcomed the judgment of the East London Magistrates’ Court, which found Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema guilty of discharging a firearm in public without lawful cause.

His pre-sentencing will begin on January 23. 

In 2018, a video emerged showing Malema firing several shots in the air during his party's fifth anniversary celebrations held in the country's Eastern Cape province.

DA deputy spokesperson on Police Ian Cameron said the conviction confirmed what he said was always obvious - “Malema recklessly fired a gun into the air in front of thousands of supporters.”

“From the outset, video footage showed Malema firing a real weapon. I said so then because the recoil, muzzle flash, and handling were consistent with a live firearm,” Cameron explained.

He said the country’s firearm laws were clear and apply equally to everybody, noting that ordinary citizens face prosecution daily for lesser charges.

“…if equality before the law is to mean anything, then Malema and his cronies must face the full consequences. No political leader should ever be allowed to incite violence or flaunt the law with impunity,” he said.

Cameron described Malema as a rogue actor and said such people must be held accountable for their conduct.

Cameron said this case was not only about Malema's conduct, but also about the culture of chaos, violence, and criminality that he claimed Malema embodied and promoted.

“A man who fires live rounds at a political rally demonstrates exactly the kind of thuggery the EFF is prepared to unleash on South Africa. This reckless act was cheered on and excused by those who insisted it was a fake gun. Their deliberate lies were an attempt to shield a politician from accountability and to normalise lawlessness,” he said.

He said the DA would continue to oppose the politics of intimidation and violence, which he alleged the EFF represented.

“Our country’s future cannot be built on bullets and threats. It must be built on the rule of law. Today’s conviction is a step toward reaffirming that principle,” Cameron stated.