The ruling party has disbanded the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League, according to reports on Monday.

Business Day newspaper and SABC radio news quoted unnamed sources as saying the decision was made at the ANC's national executive committee meeting at the weekend.

It also reportedly decided to disband the executive committee of Limpopo province and give Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale the boot.

The New Age newspaper said the Limpopo provincial executive committee – which did not back President Jacob Zuma at the ruling party's national elective conference in December – was dissolved. ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza told the daily: "We are having a press conference tomorrow [Monday]."

The SABC said ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu would not confirm the reports either, referring queries to the media conference scheduled for noon.

The state broadcaster said ANCYL Gauteng secretary Ayanda Kasa-Ntsobi confirmed that the league had been disbanded, and added that the youth league would not oppose the decision.

The ANCYL has been led by its deputy president Ronald Lamola since its former president Julius Malema was expelled from the ANC last year.

In December, Malema sent the ANC conference a letter asking for his job back, but at the time it was decided his letter had been received too late, and that the programme had already been adopted.

The ANC and ANCYL have held two meetings this year to discuss weaknesses within the party's youth wing, including its lack of a permanent leader.

Delegates at the ANC conference resolved that the incoming NEC should meet the ANCYL to sort out issues between the two.