By Spy Uganda
A Kampala-based Pan-African organisation has expressed solidarity with South African opposition leader Julius Malema following his today’s sentencing to five years in prison over firearm-related offences.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Pan-African Pyramid (PAP), led by its founding speaker Andrew Irumba Katusabe, described the development as part of a broader historical pattern in which outspoken African leaders face confrontation with state institutions.
Malema, leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was sentenced by a South African court after being convicted of unlawful possession and discharge of a firearm stemming from a 2018 incident.
In its statement, PAP said the ruling should be viewed within the context of Africa’s long history of political struggle, where leaders advocating for change often encounter resistance.
Irumba drew parallels with past African figures such as Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, and Thomas Sankara, as well as global civil rights icons, arguing that movements for political and economic transformation have historically come at significant personal cost.
While acknowledging the principle of judicial independence in South Africa, the organisation raised concerns about public perceptions of fairness in the application of justice, noting that questions around equality before the law remain prevalent across the continent.
“This is not a rejection of the rule of law,” the statement noted, “but a call for its consistent and impartial application.”
The group further described Malema as a prominent voice on issues of economic freedom, land reform, and African self-determination positions it said often challenge established political and economic structures.
The Pan-African Pyramid also commended Malema’s legal team and expressed confidence that the case could take a different direction through the appeals process.
Beyond the immediate case, the organisation said the development reflects wider debates about governance, justice, and accountability both within Africa and globally.
It announced plans to mobilise a delegation of its members to South Africa to show solidarity and engage stakeholders on issues of justice and African unity.
Irumba urged Africans to remain organised and committed to the pursuit of economic liberation and ideological independence, describing the moment as part of an ongoing struggle shaping the continent’s future.
PRESS RELEASE - ON JULIUS MALEMA JAIL SENTENCE
