An image of a group of white German social activists showing their love for Economic Freedom Front leader Julius Malema has gone viral on social media.
On Friday, 23 January, the political party’s Commander-in-Chief attended his pre-sentencing hearing at the East London Magistrate’s Court.
Last year, the outspoken leader was found guilty of the unlawful use of a firearm relating to a 2015 incident at the party’s fifth birthday celebration.
He is scheduled to return to court on 15 April for final heads of argument and sentencing.
EFF LEADER GETS LOVE FROM GERMANY
On social media platforms, a group of activists from Germany was seen protesting in support of Julius Malema’s court appearance.
In an image that has gone viral, protestors are seen holding placards and banners in support of the EFF leader. The protest took place on Thursday in Berlin.
A large red banner held up by activists reads: “No to [President Donald] Trump’s blackmail”. It also featured the words: “South Africa: Hands off Malema”.
The group is believed to be from Germany’s radical social group, the Spartacus League, and its KfsV (Committee for Social Defense).
Their support came as a surprise to many South Africans, with some even claiming the image was “AI-generated”.
WHAT DID JULIUS MALEMA DO?
Last October, Julius Malema was found guilty of contravening the Firearms Control Act. This is related to a viral video of him discharging a firearm at the party’s fifth birthday celebrations in Mdatsane in 2018.
The Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) – who faces a minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment – was found guilty on five charges: unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public place, reckless endangerment of people or property, and failing to take reasonable precautions to avoid danger.
During pre-sentencing, social worker Jesse Thompson testified to her opinion that Malema did not act with malicious intent when he fired shots at a rally in 2018.
She claimed that the outspoken leader did not fire ammunition into the crowd, but rather into the air. She argued that he had no intention of injuring anyone.
