PA's Kunene says EFF leader Malema's criminal conviction 'payback' for 'calling us names for so long'

Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy leader, Kenny Kunene, has described Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema’s conviction as "payback" for the many times he referred to him as a criminal.

Malema was found guilty of contravening firearm laws by the East London Magistrate’s Court last week.

This comes after he was caught on camera firing shots into the air during an EFF rally in Mdantsane back in 2018.

Kunene shared his thoughts on the conviction while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a service delivery programme in Soweto on Wednesday.

"Our people even elected mapantiti [criminals] to council. Ex-convicts were elected in daylight. Once lepantiti is elected to council, he meets the requirements of being a mayor."

That was Malema speaking about Patriotic Alliance leaders, Gayton McKenzie and Kunene’s past criminal convictions.

Malema has long argued that the two’s criminal histories raisequestions about their ability to govern with integrity.

When asked about his views on Malema’s recent conviction, Kunene said what goes around comes come around.

"A convicted criminal, Julius Malema, has faced the wrath of God and our ancestors because he’e been calling us names for so long based on our past. Now he is tasting our past. He’s an incoming lepantiti and we are former mapantiti. He is a convicted criminal."

Malema will return to the East London Magistrate's Court in January next year for pre-sentencing procedures.