Gayton McKenzie Breaks Silence on Julius Malema Sentencing: “Prison Is Tough”

• Patriotic Alliance president Gayton McKenzie has responded after Economic Freedom Fighters president Julius Malema was sentenced
• Malema is facing prison time after he was given five years' imprisonment for discharging a firearm into the public
• McKenzie said that he would not comment and offered his compassion to the Red Berets leader

With 10 years’ experience, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk, South Africa, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics, commissions of inquiry, and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.

GAUTENG—Patriotic Alliance president Gayton McKenzie has broken his silence after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president, Julius Malema, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment on 16 April 2026.

McKenzie shared his feelings on his @GaytonMcK X account. McKenzie said that he would not comment on his sentencing except that he would pray for him. He shared his compassion and said that prison was tougher on families.

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"Prison is their tool to neutralise him": Pieter Kriel reacts to Malema's sentencing, SA divided

"I don't celebrate when tragedy befalls people, even my enemies," he said.

View the tweet on X here:

Julius Malema sentenced to five years

Malema appeared before Judge Twanet Olivier, who sentenced him to five years' imprisonment and a fine. Malema was found guilty of firearm charges after he was found guilty of firing a gun into the air at a rally in Mdantsane in 2018, almost a decade before Malema was sentenced.

Malema's bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, was also prosecuted with Malema. However, the state acquitted him of the charges after it could not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Snyman said that he is suing the South African government for more than R20 million for malicious prosecution.

What did the Economic Freedom Fighters say?

The EFF, which showed a strong presence of support for the leader, said it would appeal the sentence after it was handed down. The party's spokesperson, Sinawo Thambo, said outside the court that the party would move swiftly to challenge the ruling and prevent Malema from spending any time in prison. He added that the intention was to humiliate him and call him a convict. He said the supporters and members were at the court to give him support.

Read also

Ratanang Malema criticises Magistrate Olivier, SA confused by his Afrikaans and De Klerk comments

South Africans react

Netizens roasted McKenzie for his response.

Koena Moabelo said:

"Deep down, you know the truth that you are happy."

Ann remarked:

"But this is exactly a comment the media is looking for. And also, is Malema your enemy?"

Son of Sam joked:

"Is he going to join your gang? What are the arrangements?"

AnythingGoes was unimpressed.

"And here we see yet another politician with no backbone or sense of civic pride. He seems to have a soft spot for criminals who brazenly break the law and wants to 'pray' for the criminal."

Afriforum's Ernst Van Zyl reacts to sentence

In a related article, Briefly News reported that Afriforum's Head of Public Relations, Ernst van Zyl welcomed the sentence that Malema received.

The EFF leader was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. Van Zyl said the sentence was a major loss for lawlessness. Afriforum was pushing for a 15-year jail term.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News