"There is going to be a contest and it could be rough. There is a strong lobby despite the fact that Julius is still a sitting president."

A POLITICAL analyst says the ANC Youth League can never divorce itself from the ANC.

Elvis Masoga also said the league is blatantly defying the ANC by portraying itself as totally independent

"They can amend their constitution as much as they like, but they will forever remain the league of the ANC. And all the leagues of the ANC shall always subject themselves to the ANC constitution, discipline and broader political direction," Masoga said.

"Their argument that Malema [suspended ANCYL president Julius] and those he was charged with are going nowhere is blatant defiance of the mother body."

But legal expect Professor Shadrack Gutto said the ANC could have a major headache.

"If the ANC did not reject the amendment immediately after it was made, then the ANC Youth League could have a strong argument," he said.

Also suspended ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu said Malema would be in charge until 2014, even if the ANC rejects his appeal.

Malema was suspended for five years and Shivambu for three years on November 10.

Shivambu told Sowetan yesterday the ANCYL constitution does not allow for automatic suspension or expulsion.

"The amended ANCYL constitution does not allow for an automatic suspension or expulsion of a member. There has to be an internal inquiry in the ANC Youth League. Should the appeal fail, the ANC can decide not to invite him into its meetings, but Malema remains ANCYL president until 2014."

He also warned members who were secretly lobbying to replace Malema - if his appeal is rejected - to stop "dreaming" about his departure.

"People must not be misled and waste their energies campaigning for something that will not happen, they must wait for 2014 to elect or get elected for positions.

"They are dreaming if they think Malema is going as president of the ANC Youth League."

While Malema has also promised to fight to the end in his bid to retain his position, some of his closest allies are jostling to take over from him.

Sources confirmed yesterday that lobby groups were campaigning for ANCYL secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, Malema's deputy Ronald Lamola and treasurer Pule Mabe.

Magaqa, Lamola and Mabe had their membership suspended for two years. Their sentence is suspended for three years.

One source said lobbying was at fever pitch as provinces and some members of the league's national executive committee could not agree on who would succeed Malema.

"There is going to be a contest and it could be rough. There is a strong lobby despite the fact that Julius is still a sitting president."

ANCYL insiders say Lamola's campaign is driven by former and current SA Students Congress (Sasco) members within the ANCYL while Magaqa is supported from his home province, KwaZulu-Natal.

Mabe was reported to have secretly tried to convince members of the league's executive committee to oppose a proposal to appeal against the sanctions by the ANC DC, an option which could have led to Malema being automatically kicked out.