ANC national executive committee member Pule Mabe is eligible to stand for the presidency of the ANC Youth League when it holds its national congress at the end of this month.

According to an extract from the national congress guidelines, a clause in the league's constitution which was omitted states that membership shall lapse when a person has turned 35 years old.

Mabe turns 35 in March next year.

The national congress, scheduled for June 25 to 28, will elect a successor to former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, who was expelled in 2012.

The league's national task team convenor Nathi Mthethwa said yesterday at a media briefing in Johannesburg that the omitted clause was "confusing", and had been left out in favour of another clause in the league's constitution limiting membership to people between the ages of 14 and 35.

The preferred clause was similar to the one in the ANC constitution, which according to Mthethwa, was regarded as the higher authority on the matter.

"If you are 36 years old you cannot be a member," said Mthethwa.

When the ANC intervened in November last year to schedule the national congress of the league, the move was seen as an attempt by senior leaders within the party, particularly secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, as a bid to block Mabe's candidature, thus making him ineligible for the next election because of his age.

Other contenders for the vacant presidency of the ANC Youth League include Malema's former deputy Ronald Lamola, National Youth Development Agency deputy chairman Kenny Morolong and ANC Youth League regional leader in Tshwane, Lesego Makhubela.

Mabe could not be reached for comment.