"JUJU save us from the mouths of vampires in the ANC in Nelson Mandela Bay!" was just one of the messages from thousands of ANC supporters for ANC Youth League president Julius Malema yesterday.

Malema was given a hero's welcome in New Brighton's Nangoza Njebe Hall which erupted in song and dance as he walked in. The crowd waved placards with messages such as: "Please Juju save the metro from the entire REC (regional executive committee)", "Oh! Juju, (the) region must step down if ANC wants our votes" and "Juju save us from mouths of vampires in ANC blankets!"

A number of disgruntled ANC members have been at loggerheads with the party's regional leadership over councillor candidates lists for the local government elections next month.

The group from 37 wards in Nelson Mandela Bay accused the REC of electing candidates who did not represent their communities' needs.

Malema - who was in the city to give a Solomon Mahlangu memorial lecture - said: "Bring all the placards to me so that I can go and read them. The ANC won't be tired of listening to its supporters and members. I will deal with some of the issues you are raising."

He said ill-disciplined members who had tampered with the candidates' lists should be ashamed of themselves.

Regional chairperson Nceba Faku and his spokesperson Zandisile Qupe sang and clapped hands with the masses before joining Malema, ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, provincial youth league chairperson Ayanda Matiti and youth league provincial secretary Mziwonke Ndabeni on stage.

Malema pleaded with the members not to punish the ANC for the mistakes of the REC. "When the time is right, you'll get a chance to remove the REC," he said.

Malema warned members that if they did not work hard to campaign for the party in the region, the ANC would lose the metro to the DA.

"If you want to be like Cape Town, vote for a party that will build you open toilets, do that. And if you want to disappoint ANC ancestors vote for the DA.

"You can't, on Sisulu's birthday (May18) vote against his organisation."

He said if people wanted the late SACP general secretary Chris Hani to turn in his grave "then go and vote for an independent (candidate)."

Malema said "the ANC represents heaven on earth. ... ask the Mickey Mouses who formed Cope, where is the party called Cope? It's a former party."

Zolani Dondashe from Motherwell''s ward 58 and chairperson of the Concerned Group, said: "We are happy Malema took our placards. We also gave him a petition, he read it and nodded his head, saying he will address the matter with President Jacob Zuma on Friday."