By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - EFF leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to a total of five years direct imprisonment as a result of his firearm discharge case. This was the judgement handed down by the Magistrates court at kuGompo in the Eastern Cape earlier this morning. It relates to an incident in which he discharged a firearm during the EFF's fifth anniversary celebrations in Mdantsane in 2018. As the country marks Freedom Month, the case also puts the spotlight on the balance between democratic freedoms and responsibility. What does this mean for Malema's political career and for South Africa's democracy? We spoke to Wits University associate professor William Gumede....

<p>By Newsbreak Producer, Taliesha Naidoo - EFF leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to a total of five years direct imprisonment as a result of his firearm discharge case. This was the judgement handed down by the Magistrates court at kuGompo in the Eastern Cape earlier this morning. It relates to an incident in which he discharged a firearm during the EFF's fifth anniversary celebrations in Mdantsane in 2018. As the country marks Freedom Month, the case also puts the spotlight on the balance between democratic freedoms and responsibility. What does this mean for Malema's political career and for South Africa's democracy? We spoke to Wits University associate professor William Gumede....</p>

Award-winning Current Affairs programme and News talk show. Brought to you by SABC News.

<p>Award-winning Current Affairs programme and News talk show. Brought to you by SABC News.</p>