Information regarding Youth League president Julius Malema's disciplinary hearing channelled by the Africa National Congress (ANC) to the media, is against its own constitution, the league said on Friday.

"The ANCYL's understanding of the ANC constitution's clause concerning public communication is that it can only be done once all processes have been finalised," spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said in a statement.

The league would stand by this understanding in its own dealings with the media, it said.

The information so far divulged did not reflect what had happened in the hearing so far, it claimed.

For example, the report released by the ANC's national disciplinary committee (NDC) claimed Malema had argued that charges brought against him were contrary to the ANC constitution. The league said this was untrue and had been refuted by Malema.

As such, the league would issue an urgent application for future ANC communications in this vein to be stopped.

The NDC announced to the media on Friday morning that Malema's bid to have the hearing dropped had been rejected.

Malema's former deputy Andile Lungisa told supporters at Beyers Naude Square in central Johannesburg that the league's national executive committee was "surprised" by the outcome of Friday's hearing.

"We have agreed to review what happened today."

He said a number of surprises had arisen, but he urged the crowd to continue their support for their leader.

"We are putting on record that information communicated to the media is false and not genuine," Lungisa said.

"The Youth League never said it disrespected the ANC, we never said that. The league will always respect the ANC."

He said they would stand behind Malema.

Lungisa told supporters that their presence was appreciated and that they should not be fooled by the media. He announced Malema would be there in person on Tuesday.

Malema was brought before the NDC on charges of bringing the ANC into disrepute and sowing divisions in ANC ranks. He recently said the ANCYL would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and to help bring about regime change, as it believed the government there was "in full co-operation with imperialists" and undermining the "African agenda".

Charged with him are ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer general Pule Mabe, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and deputy secretary general Kenetswe Masenogi.

All except Shivambu were set to appear before the committee on Friday. His disciplinary hearing had been postponed to a later date.