JOHANNESBURG - Deputy National Assembly Speaker Annelie Lotriet said Julius Malema remains a Member of Parliament.
Malema was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for contravening the Firearms Control Act.
He has been granted leave to appeal the sentence.
Lotriet said Malema does not have to resign from Parliament until the whole appeal process has been finalised.
“We cannot proceed with any action of membership of Mr. Malema until the appeal process has run its course,” Lotriet said.
“We do accept the independence of the judiciary, so that is what we rely on.”
READ: Malema’s release not unusual, says legal expert
Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority has condemned threats against a prosecutor in Malema's case.
The NPA said posts circulating on the social media platform X, linked to the party, contain serious threats directed at a prosecutor in the KuGompo Regional Court.
They said intimidation of prosecutors undermines the rule of law and will not be tolerated.
"Such threats carry serious consequences," the NPA statement said in part.