EAST LONDON - Julius Malema’s political future hangs in the balance.
That’s after being sentenced to five years' direct imprisonment by the East London Regional Court.
The commander-in-chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters has applied for leave to appeal the sentence.
But there are no guarantees that Magistrate Twanet Olivier's Thursday decision will be overturned.
The incident took place nearly eight years ago in Mdantsane.
READ: Malema remains MP pending appeal outcome, says Deputy Speaker
Now, a woman who claims to have attended the party's fifth birthday celebrations has told eNCA she doesn’t recall Malema discharging any firearm.
Nandipha Mva said she had the best front row seats in the house, stationed directly in front of Malema, who was on stage during the party's fifth birthday celebrations at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium.
- eNCA's Ronald Masinda has more details in the video above.