WITH Julius Malema's political career as ANC Youth League president effectively dead and buried, attention has now shifted to his successor.

Some league members are hoping that current deputy president Ronald Lamola will take over from Malema until 2014 when his term in office expires, but there are strong moves to force the league to go for an early congress to elect new leaders.

Sowetan sources said a special national executive committee meeting will be convened after the ANC national disciplinary committee of appeals (NDCA) has announced its decision to map a way forward for the league.

Malema is appealing his expulsion and his lawyers are expected to submit their heads of arguments before the NDCA today.

Yesterday, Malema was dealt a blow when the NDCA upheld the national disciplinary committee's decision to suspend him after labelling President Jacob Zuma a dictator.

"The NDCA has dismissed Julius Malema's application to set aside the temporary suspension imposed on him by the ANC's NDC and found that the national disciplinary committee (NDC) did not breach the ANC constitution, the rules of natural justice and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa," NDCA chairman Cyril Ramaphosa said.

Lamola, who has stepped in to fill the void left by Malema, will be challenged should ANCYL members resolve to hold an early congress. The ANCYL constitution states that Malema's deputy, in this case Lamola, takes over in the absence of the president.

But youth league members who spoke to Sowetan expressed outright unhappiness at the possibility of Lamola ascending to the organisation's throne, largely because of perceptions that this would allow Malema to rule from the "grave".

However, Mpumalanga, North West and some structures in Limpopo have expressed a desire to have Lamola succeed Malema.

The ANCYL in Limpopo said it would continue to support Malema irrespective of the ANC's decision to expel or suspend him.

On the other hand, Malema's opponents in the province said they would support any candidate to lead the party "as long as a transparent process was used".

A youth league leader said that treasurer Pule Mabe stood head and shoulders above Lamola because "he has political content".

Gauteng is divided between Mabe and their chairman Lebohang Maile to replace Malema. Some feel Maile disappointed them when he could not accept nomination last year at their national congress to challenge Malema.

Malema will know his fate by latest next week, and judging by his latest antics, the decision may not go his way.