As Julius Malema prepares his Equality Court appeal, an independent analyst said the Youth League leader had lost political momentum.

The Equality Court in Johannesburg ruled on Monday that Malema's comments about President Jacob Zuma's rape accuser amounted to hate speech and harassment.

He told students in Cape Town last year the woman had a nice time with Zuma because she stayed for breakfast and asked for taxi money.

Analyst Somadoga Fikeni said the ANC's recent decision to discipline those who engaged in public spats and insults might put Malema in a difficult position.