JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Julius Malema, the prominent leader of South Africa’s opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was convicted on Wednesday of violating firearm laws during a 2018 political rally. The incident, which was captured on video, showed Malema firing a rifle at his party’s five-year anniversary event in the Eastern Cape province. The footage sparked widespread controversy and led to criminal charges brought by Afrikaner lobby group Afriforum. Malema argued in his defense that the weapon was a toy gun, but Magistrate Twanet Olivier dismissed this claim, finding him guilty of contravening the Firearms Control Act. His then-bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, who was accused of providing the rifle, was acquitted. Malema criticized the verdict, alleging racial bias, as Snyman is white. Outside the East London Magistrates Court, Malema vowed to appeal the decision, potentially taking the case to the Constitutional Court. While he could face up to 15 years in prison, the absence of a minimum sentence leaves room for leniency. His sentencing is scheduled for January 23, 2024. Malema, a polarizing figure in South African politics, has been a vocal advocate for controversial policies, including the expropriation of white-owned land without compensation and the nationalization of key industries. His influence was highlighted earlier this year when U.S. President Donald Trump referenced him in a tense meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, falsely alleging a ‘white genocide’ in the country. Malema’s EFF, South Africa’s fourth-largest political party, secured 9% of the vote in the last general elections.