THE ANC Youth League has blamed the SACP's appetite for power and influence over the ANC for the latest public spat involving Julius Malema and the SACP top brass.

The league has accused SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande of harbouring ambitions to oust Kgalema Motlanthe as deputy president of the ANC.

The young lions have vowed to oppose the re-election of ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe at the party's next conference in 2012 because he is also chairperson of the SACP. Former youth league president Fikile Mbalula is reportedly its preferred candidate for the position.

Malema has said the ANCYL would oppose any attempts by the communists to take over the ANC.

Yesterday, the ANCYL national working committee (NWC) decided to oppose the election of communists to top positions in the ANC.

"We will not agree to the dumping of undemocratic leaders into the ANC, and we will decide on the leadership of the ANC when the time is right," spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said.

The league has attributed the hostile reception to Malema in Polokwane to "suspicions" held by communists that their leaders would be shut out.

"The NWC is convinced that the main reason the SACP leadership supports the booing of the ANCYL president is because they believe the ANCYL does not support the bid by Nzimande to become deputy president of the ANC, and that the league will not support Mantashe's re-election," Shivambu said.