Top African National Congress (ANC) leaders and its Youth League were expected to meet on Monday amid reports that Julius Malema had been formally charged with ill-discipline.

"There is an expected meeting today [Monday]. I think that the meeting has been anticipated," ANCYL spokesperson Magdalene Moonsamy told Sapa.

The national working committee of the ANCYL would meet the top leadership structure of the ANC, she said, declining to elaborate.

Sunday papers reported at the weekend that youth leader Malema had been charged for alleged ill-discipline and bringing the organisation into disrepute.

He was to appear before a disciplinary committee headed by Deputy Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom, reported the Sunday Times and City Press.

Malema apparently received a letter from ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe to inform him of the charges.

The youth leader is said to be accused of bringing 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.

Also, he faced possible censure for remarking that former President Thabo Mbeki never rebuked the ANCYL publicly when he disagreed with it, unlike President Jacob Zuma.

He also faced charges for saying, after Eugene Terre'Blanche's murder, that the rightwing leader died before changing his racist behaviour, and for his aggressive behaviour towards BBC journalist Jonah Fisher, calling him a "bastard" and "bloody agent".

According to the charges, Malema brought the ANC into disrepute, and violated the moral integrity expected of members or public representatives of the organisation.

According to the Sunday Times, charges against him included promoting racism, sexism, tribal chauvinism, and religious and political intolerance.