Julius Malema Sentencing: EFF Supporters and SAPS Clash on the N4 in Mpumalanga

• Members of the South African Police Service and Economic Freedom Fighters supporters clashed in Mpumalanga
• The party's president, Julius Malema, was sentenced to five years imprisonment at the magistrates court in Ku-Gompo City in the Eastern Cape
• Angry supporters took to the streets and attempted to block the N4, leading to the exchange

Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of Current Affairs, contributed coverage of international and local social issues, including health, corruption, education, unemployment, legislation, labour, service delivery protests, and immigration in South Africa, during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

MBOMBELA, MPUMALANGA– Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters clashed in Mbombela in Mpumalanga on 16 April 2026. The SAPS fired rubber bullets, teargas, and stun grenades during the clash.

TimesLIVE posted a video of the police and the supporters. The video shows Supporters fleeing as a line of police officers shoots them with rubber bullets and teargas. The supporters, who were trying to block the N4, protested after party president Julius Malema was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and a fine. This was after he was found guilty of discharging a firearm at a rally in Mdantsane in 2018.

Read also

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

Watch the video below:

A look at Julius Malema's sentencing

Malema appeared before the Magistrates' Court in Ku-Gompo City in the Eastern Cape on 16 April 2026. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and a fine after he was found guilty of discharging a firearm in public during a rally in 2018. His co-accused, Adriaan Snyman, was acquitted of the charges he was facing.

The EFF reacted strongly to the case. Before the sentencing, the EFF Youth Command's University of Cape Town chairperson, Mahlatse Dlamini, said that they would make the country ungovernable if Malema is handed a prison sentence. The party gathered outside the court in support of Malema as he attended his pre-sentencing.

Speaking after the sentencing, the EFF's spokesperson, Sinawo Thambo, said that the party will appeal the sentence. He opined that the presiding judge, Twanet Olivier, wanted to humiliate Malema with the sentence and said that the party's supporters and members wanted to show Malema that he's got his back. Malema also addressed his supporters and members outside the court. His supporters celebrated as the court granted him leave to appeal his sentence and granted him bail. He was also released on a warning.

Read also

Video of man resembling former Johannesburg mayor Thapelo Amad shooting gun resurfaces

Oscar Mabuyane plans to sue Julius Malema

In a related article, Briefly News reported that the Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane threatened to sue Malema for defamation. This was after Malema made allegations about Mabuyane outside the Magistrates' Court.

Malema said during his speech that police officers must arrest Mabuyane. He cited the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) investigation, which is investigating allegations of Mabuyane stealing a Master's degree from the University of Fort Hare. This is despite Mabuyane denying the claim. Mabuyane instructed his lawyers to deal wth the matter and said Malema must not be allowed to continue spreading false information.

Source: Briefly News