South African firebrand Julius Malema will voluntarily appear in court on Wednesday, his lawyer said, paving the way for a high-profile and politically charged trial.

South African special police issued an arrest warrant for Malema on Friday, after he had called for miners to make the country's crucial sector ungovernable.

"By arrangement with the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) Mr. Malema will appear in the Polokwane Regional Court on Wednesday," his lawyer Nicqui Galaktiou said in a statement.

Local media reported the charges related to government tender corruption, but Galaktiou could not confirm this.

"We have not received a copy of the charge sheet, neither have we seen a warrant of arrest with any details of the case. We therefore cannot speculate on its contents," she said.

Malema has also used the strikes to attack his enemies within the ruling African National Congress.

Recently expelled as head of the ANC's Youth League, he has called for the removal of President Jacob Zuma as party head while jockeying starts ahead of a leadership election in December.

The party booted the rabble-rouser in April for ill-discipline.