The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed that it has charged EFF leader Julius Malema for allegedly firing a weapon in public during a party rally in the Eastern Cape in 2018.

In a statement, NPA Eastern Cape spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said Malema faces five charges, including the unlawful possession of a firearm.

The four other counts are the unlawful possession of ammunition, the discharge of a firearm in a public place, failure to take reasonable precaution to prevent danger to a person or property and reckless endangerment to a person or property.

Security official Adriaan Snyman has also been charged. Snyman faces two counts: a failure to take reasonable precautions to prevent danger to a person or property and providing a firearm or ammunition to any person who is not allowed to possess one.

READ| Malema expects NPA to charge him for discharging firearm in public



The case has been postponed to February 24, 2020, for the State to provide the defence with details from the docket and video footage, said Tyali.

In September, News24 reported that the NPA had decided whether or not it should charge Malema. But, at the time, Tyali said the decision could not be revealed.

Days after the News24 report, Malema said the case against him was a mockery of the system.

Malema added that after getting advice from his lawyers, he did not think there was anything to answer to, adding that the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation was "mischievous".

READ | Legal team accompanies Malema to Hawks' offices for warning statement

A leading legal expert specialising in firearm law previously told News24 Malema could face up to 15 years in jail if found guilty of firearm charges.