The African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday could not confirm reports that its Youth League president Julius Malema will face a disciplinary hearing on May 3.

Spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said: "These are internal processes... we have told you that charges have been preferred... we will tell you the outcome."

Quoting ANC national executive committee member and Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Derek Hanekom, The Star reported that the hearing would take place on May 3.

Hanekom was apparently tasked with heading the disciplinary committee overseeing the Malema matter.

He could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Mthembu said that the process was an "internal matter" and that the ANC should be given space to do its work.

At a media briefing on Tuesday, the ANC confirmed that Malema faced disciplinary action.

It was reported over the weekend that Malema has been formally charged with ill-discipline and bringing the organisation into disrepute.

It is understood that the inquiry will determine whether he brought the ANC and the government into disrepute by publicly endorsing Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party and attacking the opposition Movement for Democratic Change during a recent visit to that country.

President Jacob Zuma recently publicly berated Malema for his attack on a BBC journalist, for continuing to sing the struggle song lyrics "shoot the boer" despite an ANC decision to stop doing so, and for his comments about slain AWB leader Eugene Terre'Blanche.

Malema's public show of support for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF annoyed Zuma, who is directly leading efforts to rescue that country's power-sharing agreement.

The ANCYL on Monday made a submission to the party's officials calling for the charges against its president to be dropped.