1. Threatening to “kill for Zuma”

This is when Julius Malema became infamous. While addressing a crowd in the Free State in 2008, Malema said: “We are prepared to die for Zuma. We are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma.” That was only the beginning of Malema’s PR disasters.

2. Insulting a BBC journalist

During a 2010 press briefing on his visit to Zimbabwe, Malema began verbally attacking BBC journalist Jonah Fisher (who pointed out that while Malema criticised the MDC for having offices in Sandton, he too lived in Sandton). A snippet: “Rubbish is what you have covered in that trouser — that is rubbish… You are a small boy, you can’t do anything. Go out…bastard! Go out! You bloody agent!”

3. Julius’s infamous Matric results

Listen, if you’re going to go around saying crazy things, embarrassing documents will pop up. Like Malema’s Matric results did in 2008. To refresh your memory: he got an H in mathematics (on standard grade) and a G in woodwork (also standard grade). In all fairness, maths isn’t fun for a lot of people and we can imagine woodwork can’t be that easy either.

4. His love affair with SARS

Ah, Julius and SARS have had a more complex relationship than Julius and the ANC. To settle his hefty tax bill, both Malema’s Sandton house and cabbage farm were auctioned off in 2013. SARS and Malema have yet to settle their differences.

5. Various incidents of slut-shaming

When Zille (rightfully) came under fire for her all-male executive council in 2009, Malema not only called Zille a “cockroach”, but accused her of sleeping with the council (he called the men Zille’s “boyfriends”).

Last year he called small business development minister Lindiwe Zulu a “street meid”, which is slang for an uncouth woman (to put it mildly). There was also the time he accused Zuma’s rape accuser of having “a nice time” because she didn’t leave Zuma’s house as soon as the alleged rape occurred.

6. The “tea girl” comment that won’t die

Malema infamously called former DA parliamentary speaker Lindiwe Mazibuko a “tea girl” (what’s wrong with being the help?) and dissed science and technology minister Naledi Pandor’s “fake American” accent. FYI: She doesn’t have an American accent.

7. His lack of social media savvy

When a parody Julius Malema account gained traction on Twitter, the then-ANC Youth League leader lost it and threatened to shut down Twitter. The world laughed. Part of the press release by the ANCYL: “There are computer hackers who have created twitter accounts in the name of the [ANCYL] President and recurrently posting misleading messages.” Computer hackers… Really? We’re still laughing. That particular parody account Malema was so upset about is now his official Twitter account.

8. When he was kicked out of the ANC

The unthinkable happened when the ANC got rid of its spoilt but protected child in 2012. Not only was Malema expelled, but soon afterwards he was charged with fraud and money laundering. It’s cold outside the ANC.

9. The formation of the EFF

Malema went from defender to enemy of the ANC when he launched the Economic Freedom Fighters in 2013. Their main MO has been to attack the ANC and Zuma, in particular. Malema even later apologised to Zuma – for supporting him. It’s like a soap opera.

10. When his former friends Kenny and Gayton turned on him

When the EFF formed, Kenny Kunene and Gayton McKenzie were prominent members/ supporters. But things soured very quickly. McKenzie wrote a fabulous open letter to Malema, where he referred to him as a ‘thug’. Our favourite part: “That’s why Kenny left the EFF, because on principle he could not work with the warmongering, money-grubbing, capitalist robed in revolutionary gear dictator you so clearly are.” Kunene recently compared Malema to Hitler at the Franschhoek Literary Festival. Yikes.