{"id":228443,"date":"2026-04-17T09:26:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T07:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/?p=228443"},"modified":"2026-04-17T09:26:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T07:26:55","slug":"malema-sentence-affirms-that-politicians-are-not-above-the-law-afriforum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/en\/malema-sentence-affirms-that-politicians-are-not-above-the-law-afriforum\/","title":{"rendered":"Malema sentence affirms that politicians are not above the law \u2013 AfriForum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Despite the efforts of Julius Malema\u2019s legal team to argue mitigating circumstances in the East London Magistrate\u2019s Court, today\u2019s events in court have confirmed to AfriForum that no one, regardless of their status or political affiliation, is above the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"478\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 848 \/ 478;\" width=\"848\" controls src=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jacques-Broodryk_ENG_16-April-2026_VIDEO.mp4\"><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Video: jacques Broodryk (English)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jacques-Broodryk_16-April-2026_ENG.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Soundbite: Jacques Broodryk (English)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Malema was sentenced to five years in prison today. AfriForum views the sentence as an important step in restoring public confidence in the criminal justice system. However, Malema\u2019s application to appeal the sentence and bail were granted.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Landdros-Olivier_16-April-2026-768x512-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-228431\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.5000610388817677;width:768px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Landdros-Olivier_16-April-2026-768x512-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Landdros-Olivier_16-April-2026-768x512-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Magistrate Twanette Olivier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>This follows after Malema was found guilty in September last year on five charges under the Firearms Control Act, including discharging a firearm in a built-up or public area without sufficient reason, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AfriForum\u2019s continued pressure to have the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) prosecuted after he fired several shots in a public space in 2018 is proof of what\u2019s possible when civil society refuses to allow serious criminal behaviour to be condoned or ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe reckless discharge of a firearm in a busy public space posed a real and unacceptable risk to human life. It is good to see that this type of behaviour is not normalised or justified under any circumstances,\u201d says Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum\u2019s Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen the law is applied consistently and without fear or favouritism, public confidence in the justice system is strengthened. AfriForum will continue to uphold the rule of law and ensure equal accountability for all,\u201d adds Broodryk.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Malema_16-April-2026-768x512-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-228433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Malema_16-April-2026-768x512-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Malema_16-April-2026-768x512-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Julius Malema<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>AfriForum played a decisive role in ensuring that this case was brought to court. Without the organisation\u2019s intervention and sustained pressure, the case may never have come to trial in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, Malema\u2019s actions have gone unpunished for too long. \u201cIt was essential that the court send a clear message that no one is above the law. Although it took eight years for justice to prevail, today\u2019s outcome shows that perseverance matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Llewellyn-Hemmens-Jacques-Broodryk_16-April-2026-600x900-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-228435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Llewellyn-Hemmens-Jacques-Broodryk_16-April-2026-600x900-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Llewellyn-Hemmens-Jacques-Broodryk_16-April-2026-600x900-1-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Llewellynn Hemmens and Jacques Broodryk<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-palette-9-color has-theme-palette-1-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-241b181f984143eb1201d7d999b562a0\"><strong>Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/en\/guilty-verdict-in-malema-firearm-case-a-victory-for-accountability-and-the-rule-of-law-afriforum\/\">Guilty verdict in Malema firearm case a victory for accountability and the rule of law \u2013 AfriForum<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite the efforts of Julius Malema\u2019s legal team to argue mitigating circumstances in the East London Magistrate\u2019s Court, today\u2019s events&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":226,"featured_media":228446,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Malema sentence affirms that politicians are not above the law \u2013 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