ANC Youth League president Julius Malema sought divine intervention yesterday ahead of his appearance before an ANC disciplinary committee this week.

Malema and the five top officials of the league are facing charges of bringing the ANC into disrepute and sowing divisions in the party's ranks.

Malema annoyed the mother body when he said his executive had resolved to form a team that would assist opposition parties in neighbouring Botswana to remove the current ruling party from power.

With his head slightly bowed, Malema walked into the AME Church in Pimville, Soweto, yesterday, accompanied by his trusted lieutenant and league treasurer Pule Mabe.

Praying for Malema, Reverend Tsele Setai requested God "to fight for him (Malema) because he is fighting your (God's) war. When he comes before people (ANC Disciplinary Committee) who have called him, let them see your face Lord. Give him strength Lord, because you are powerful than those who have called him. Let there be forgiveness," Setai said.

In his spirited sermon Setai appeared to be comparing Malema with David in the Bible.

"And I understand that there was a need for deliverance because David says the water has come so far up on his neck and he felt like he would drown. God was saying to David: 'I have called you , do not be afraid. I have called you to lead the people'," Setai said.

He said his sermon should not be interpreted as a shot at President Jacob Zuma. Malema, who was sombre throughout the service, sprang to life when he took to the podium.

"We are not going to sleep and pretend everything is OK, when we are actually going into a serious mess. You can't have a youth league that can't speak.

"President Mandela, when he formed the youth league, challenged the elders and said to them this strategy you are using of sending letters to the queen will never liberate our people. The elders at that time accused him of disrespect. That disrespect gave us freedom today because of the energetic youth.

"The youth has energy and elders must not suppress it. They must nurture that energy. If you say you cannot control the youth it means you have failed," Malema said.

"In the youth league we have a programme of fighting for economic freedom. We are an enemy to those in power because we say lets share the wealth of this country. The ANCYL is hated today by some who are supposed to be our liberators."

ANCYL structures across the country have vowed to support Malema, Mabe, ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, deputy president Ronald Lamola, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and his deputy Kenetswe Masenogi, when they appear before the ANC disciplinary committee.

Youth league members would be bussed to Johannesburg from today, ahead of the appearance of Malema and Shivambu on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.