South Africa's ruling ANC on Saturday threw out an appeal by its fiery youth league leader, Julius Malema, to overturn his suspension, but said he could argue for a lighter sentence.

"The NDCA (appeals committee) is satisfied with the finding of the NDC (national disciplinary committee) and finds no reason to bury the finding of the NDC. The appellant's appeal is therefore dismissed," said the party's appeals committee chair, influential businessman Cyril Ramaphosa.