Support for EFF leader Julius Malema extends beyond national borders, with protesters in New York and London opposing his sentence.  

Malema was last week sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for discharging a firearm at an EFF rally in 2018, and his legal team is currently working on an appeal.  

READ MORE:  Malema sentenced to 5 years for firearms case, sentence appealed – Smile 90.4FM

Much like his local supporters, members of workers’ movements, such as the Partisan Defense Committee and the Spartacist League, rejected the sentence.  

The groups held small “Hands Off Julius Malema” protests outside the South African consulate in New York City as well as the South African Embassy in London. 

Hands off Malema Protest today in NYC initiated by the @PartisanDefense and the Spartacist League, joined by the Internationalist Group. pic.twitter.com/XF4yq9Cc24

— Workers Vanguard | SL/U.S. (@WorkersVanguard) April 17, 2026

They believed Malema was sentenced to prison in response to demands by US President Donald Trump to do so. Trump had previously referenced Malema and his party in relation to his claims of a “white genocide”. 

A speaker with the Partisan Defence Committee in Britain called for “the united defence” of Malema, because he believes that is a way that South Africans can fight back against, especially, American imperialism.  

At tonight’s demo in front of the South African Embassy in London, the speaker for @WorkersHammer makes it clear why the so-called Government of National Unity is threatening to lock up EFF leader @Julius_S_Malema
United front action is vital in fighting back against the attacks… pic.twitter.com/F5rUeTRtp1

— Partisan Defence Committee/Britain (@PDCBritain) April 16, 2026