South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of firearm-related offences, marking a significant development in the country’s political landscape.

The 45-year-old leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) was convicted on multiple charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm, discharging a weapon in a public space, and reckless endangerment.

The sentencing was delivered at a court in East London by Magistrate Twanet Olivier. Malema, dressed in a dark suit and red tie, showed little visible reaction as the ruling was read out.

His legal team immediately filed an appeal in an effort to prevent his immediate imprisonment, setting the stage for a potentially lengthy legal battle that could reach higher courts.

The charges stem from a 2018 incident during the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebrations in the Eastern Cape, where a video surfaced showing Malema firing a semi-automatic rifle into the air. In his defence, he argued that the weapon was not his and that he discharged it to energise the crowd.

However, the court rejected this explanation, with Magistrate Olivier stating the act was deliberate and central to the event, rather than spontaneous.

Malema, a member of parliament and a prominent political figure, has built a reputation as a vocal and polarising leader advocating for radical economic reforms, including land redistribution and wealth transfer policies. His party has gained significant support, emerging as one of the country’s major political forces in recent elections.

Supporters gathered outside the courthouse during the proceedings, chanting and singing in solidarity with the EFF leader, underscoring his strong grassroots backing.

Malema previously served as head of the youth wing of the African National Congress (ANC) before being expelled following a dispute with former President Jacob Zuma. He later founded the EFF, which has since eroded portions of the ANC’s electoral base.

Reacting to his conviction last year, Malema struck a defiant tone, saying that imprisonment or even death would be “a badge of honour” in the struggle he represents. He has also pledged to challenge the ruling all the way to Constitutional Court of South Africa if necessary.

The case was initiated by AfriForum, an Afrikaner lobby organisation that has frequently clashed with Malema and his party.

In a separate matter last year, Malema was also found guilty of hate speech over controversial remarks made at a 2022 rally, further adding to his mounting legal challenges.

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Roelf Meyer, a former senior figure in the apartheid-era government, as the country’s new ambassador to the United States.

The appointment, confirmed by presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, takes immediate effect and comes at a time of strained diplomatic relations between the two nations.

South Africa has been without a top envoy in Washington since the expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool last year. His removal followed remarks accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of attempting to “project white victimhood as a dog whistle,” further deepening tensions.

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since Trump’s return to office, with disagreements over domestic and international issues contributing to the diplomatic rift.

Meyer, 78, is best known for his role in the negotiations that led to the end of Apartheid in the early 1990s. As a senior member of the National Party, which had implemented apartheid, he served as one of the chief negotiators alongside Ramaphosa, who represented the African National Congress under the leadership of Nelson Mandela.

Meyer later served as minister of constitutional affairs in the final apartheid government and went on to join the Government of National Unity formed after South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994. He left government in 1996 and later co-founded the United Democratic Movement before eventually joining the ANC.

A white Afrikaner, Meyer was regarded as a reformist within the National Party, though his role in dismantling apartheid led to criticism from some conservative factions within the Afrikaner community.

The appointment also comes amid controversy surrounding claims by Trump that Afrikaners are facing persecution in South Africa—allegations widely dismissed by the South African government. Ramaphosa has rejected such assertions, stating it is “completely false” that any racial or cultural group is being systematically targeted.

At least four people have been killed and several others injured in a shooting at a school in southern Turkey, marking the second such incident in the region in as many days.

The attack occurred at Ayser Calik Secondary School in the Kahramanmaras area, according to local media reports.

Authorities have yet to confirm the identities of those killed or provide details about the suspect. The condition and whereabouts of the attacker remain unclear as investigations continue.

Kahramanmaras Governor Mukerrem Unluer said that at least 20 people were injured in the attack, with some reported to be in critical condition.

The shooting comes just a day after another violent incident at a high school in southern Turkey, where an ex-student opened fire, injuring multiple people before taking his own life.

The motive behind Wednesday’s attack has not yet been established. Officials have launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Turkish media reports suggest the attacker entered two classrooms armed with multiple weapons, including five guns and seven magazines, which were allegedly owned by his father.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos and panic. A reporter for Turkish broadcaster NTV said the sound of gunfire was “very intense,” with crowds gathering outside the school as emergency services responded. Footage from the scene showed ambulances transporting victims while bystanders looked on, many recording the aftermath on their mobile phones.