A MARATHON of proceedings in Julius Malema's disciplinary hearing finished late last night as his defence team argued that charges against him be dropped.

The hearing, held at the ANC headquarters in downtown Johannesburg, started at 10am yesterday, and by 8pm had not finished.

Malema's defence, which is also representing his spokesman Floyd Shivambu, presented closing arguments before ANC prosecutors on why Malema's charges should be dropped.

The disciplinary committee was yesterday hearing closing arguments in the case in which Malema is facing charges of sowing divisions in the ANC and bringing it into disrepute. Malema, together with his officials - deputy president Ronald Lamola, secretary general Sandiso Magaqa, his deputy Kenetswe Mosenogi and treasurer general Pule Mabe - are also charged with storming into an ANC officials' meeting.

Should Malema and his co-accused be found guilty, they will lose their positions. There is already talk within the ANC about possible candidates to replace Malema.

Malema already has a suspended sentence.

Malema has been at the forefront of the campaign to replace ANC president Jacob Zuma with his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe at the party's historic Mangaung conference next year. It is likely that should Malema be kicked out of the ANC, the anti-Zuma campaign could take a nosedive.