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

This is a developing story.

SABC News previously reported the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) spokesperson, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, has dismissed AfriForum’s allegation that party leader Julius Malema fired an assault rifle during the party’s fifth-anniversary celebrations in East London.

Ndlozi says the allegations have no basis and that the alleged firearm was not real.

“It was not a firearm and no real ammunition or bullets were fired. It was emulation as part of the celebrations of the EFF that was also coordinated with fireworks. We did that to evoke both celebration and memory of our struggle during colonial and apartheid times.”.

News24 reported that after the incident, Malema hands the fire-arm over to a man, who appears to be Bluff security company owner, Adriaan Snyman, who then quickly ducks out of the camera's shot. Malema then gives a high-five to EFF chairperson, advocate Dali Mpofu.

When asked if he was present and took the rifle from Malema, Snyman told News24 that he was not aware of anything. "Phone me back in the morning," he said. On Wednesday morning, Snyman told News24 that he was not aware of the video and asked to be called back later. 

Snyman has previously been identified as one of Malema's bodyguards.

News24