I have no sympathy for Julius Malema, who is now being dumped by the same comrades who used him to undermine former president Thabo Mbeki.

He is not the only one to be used and dumped – he joins Bheki Cele, Gibson Njenje and Schabir and Moe Shaik. I bet you the next ones are Zwelinzima Vavi, Cassel Mathale and Zweli Mkhize.

Malema is a victim of circumstances created by his handlers who used him as a political pit bull to undermine Mbeki and those who dared to oppose Zuma in his drive to become ANC president. We forget that it was Zuma who anointed him “future president” when he was still relevant to his agenda. When Malema vowed “to kill for Zuma”, there was no public reprimand by the president. He became an enemy when he became hostile to his second-term ambition.

Malema fell into the trap by harassing journalists and drawing Mbeki’s name into their “civil” war. He also made the mistake of speaking publicly about Zuma’s failures to create jobs, to lead by moral example and to advance an African agenda.

Malema is not the only ANC leader in the enrichment crusade. Limpopo is not the only milking cow for comrades.

We must applaud the ANC for instilling discipline. But the appeals committee’s decision was a setback for Kgalema Motlanthe, Mathews Phosa, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Thandi Modise, Fikile Mbalula, Siphiwe Nyanda and the anti-JZ faction.

Limpho Mokgapi

Bloemfontein, Free State