When the ANC let loose cannon Julius Malema, they did not know it would backfire on them. After Polokwane, the new NEC was baying for Thabo Mbeki's blood and hellbent on getting rid of him.

When the ANC let loose cannon Julius Malema, they did not know it would backfire on them. After Polokwane, the new NEC was baying for Thabo Mbeki's blood and hellbent on getting rid of him.

They let loose Malema. The cannon was then directed at Mbeki sympathisers - Nosimo Balindlela, Beatrice Marshoff and Sello Moloto.

But smelling an imminent exodus of veterans, the cannon was put on hold. When Jacob Zuma's trial started, the cannon was once again set in motion. This time its target was the so-called counter revolutionary judiciary. Each time a judgment went against Zuma, the cannon would fire.

But to the dismay of its masters, the loose cannon is now misfiring at them. First Kgalema Motlanthe, then Trevor Manuel and lately Naledi Pandor. Motlanthe was labelled Mbeki's replica in Zimbabwe. Manuel had to toe the tripartite alliance line on Polokwane-friendly economic measures. Pandor bore the brunt of the latest attack.

Sensing the cannon's irreparable damage, the ANC worked behind the scenes to remedy the situation. Reluctantly, he apologised to Pandor through his youth league. His uneducated ego would not allow a public apology.

Who can deny Cope's claims that our hard-earned democracy is under threat? Our democracy must be defended with our votes. A two-thirds ANC majority will push South Africa down the ravine. A vote for Cope is a vote for nurturing and preserving our democracy.

Moyane Mthunzi, Hazyview