MOVES are afoot in the ANC to cause divisions within the ruling party's youth league to weaken support for its president Julius Malema.

Malema, his deputy Ronald Lamola, secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, deputy secretary-general Keneilwe Mosenogi, treasurer-general Pule Mabe and ANC Youth League spokesman Floyd Shivambu are appearing before an ANC disciplinary committee facing charges, including bringing the party into disrepute, causing divisions within the party and of disrupting an ANC meeting.

A faction within the ANC is said to be mobilising provinces to turn some of the ANCYL executive members against Malema.

The move is aimed at neutralising any support for Malema should he be suspended from the ANCYL.

They are reportedly wary of suspending Malema while he wields the kind of power he does.

Several provinces - with the exception of Limpopo, Free State and Gauteng - seem to have fallen in line with the move to take on Malema's supporters.

Eastern Cape was the first province to heed the call by Luthuli House to take disciplinary action against the ANCYL members who participated in the violent protest outside party headquarters a week ago when Malema appeared before the disciplinary committee for the first time.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal was the latest province to announce on Monday that it would take action against ANCYL members who participated in the march outside Luthuli House.

Although the ANC leadership in Mpumalanga has not announced its position on whether or not it would act against Luthuli House protesters, the provincial leadership is known to be loyal to President Jacob Zuma.

North West has also indicated its intentions to deal with those who participated in the protest.

Northern Cape and Western Cape still have to take a decision but are expected to fall in line with those acting against the protesters.

Meanwhile, Sapa reports that the disciplinary hearings of Malema, Shivambu, Lamola, Magaqa, Mabe and Mosenogi have been postponed until Thursday, ANC spokesman Keith Khoza said.

The hearings are being held in Kibler Park, south of Johannesburg. Khoza said the hearings had proceeded with no disruptions outside the venue.

Mounted and metro police were on the scene and a few people were at the building, but there was no large group of supporters present.