THE ANC Youth League leader has dared the ANC, saying he was not afraid to appear before the ruling party's disciplinary committee today.

"One thing you need to know about us is that we are not cowards. Under the circumstances we remain fearless," Malema said at Luthuli House yesterday.

The hearing against Malema and his co-leaders is seen by many as a move by the ruling party to marginalise the ANCYL before its Bloemfontein elective conference next year.

The call by the ANCYL for the nationalisation of mines is seen as a ploy to unseat President Jacob Zuma and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe at next year's conference.

The ANCYL had previously warned those who did not support their call that they would not get their support.

Both Mantashe and Zuma have publicly declared that nationalisation is not ANC policy.

Malema yesterday insisted that the charges against him and his executive committee members were driven by people within the ANC who were opposed to the nationalisation of mines and the expropriation of land without compensation.

"Whether you expel us or not, these resolutions will never change," a defiant Malema said.

The firebrand youth leader also warned that if the ANCYL leadership survived the disciplinary hearing "the league's pronouncement in Mangaung would be the order of the day".

Malema is to appear before the ANC disciplinary committee today accused, together with the other members of his executive committee, of bringing the party into disrepute and sowing divisions within its structures.

The charges follow the ANCYL's recent statement that it would help opposition parties in Botswana to depose President Ian Khama, whom they accused of being a "puppet of imperialists".

Malema's right-hand man, Floyd Shivambu, is to appear before the disciplinary committee tomorrow.

Malema said there were forces that would want to see an ANC that "is in conflict with itself".

"We need to avoid that. We need to carry ourselves in a dignified manner," he said.

Malema denied the youth league had plans to bus its members from all over the country to support its leaders.

Political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi said the battle was between Zuma and Malema, and whoever loses would suffer political consequences.

Matshiqi said the battle was bigger than discipline.

"It is about who enjoys massive support between Zuma and Malema in the ANC structures," he said.

ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza said yesterday the party had not been informed about a march to Luthuli House.

"We cannot comment about it," he said.