The ANC Youth League's leaders who were found guilty by ANC disciplinary committee on various charges two weeks ago had still not submitted their appeals applications by late yesterday afternoon .

They had until midnight to lodge their appeals. ANC spokesman Keith Khoza said at 6pm yesterday that the appeals committee had not received the applications.

He said the appeals hearing would probably begin next week as the ANC was holding its last national executive committee meeting for the year in Bloemfontein.

League president Julius Malema, who was in Bloemfontein yesterday for the Tebogo Sikisi memorial lecture, will attend the NEC meeting, which starts today, only if he had lodged his appeal in time.

The league could not be reached for comment last night.

Malema, spokesman Floyd Shivambu, deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer-general Pule Mabe, secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa and deputy secretary-general Kenetswe Mosenogi were found guilty and sanctioned by the ANC's national disciplinary committee two weeks ago.

Malema was given a five-year suspension and was told to vacate his position. Shivambu was suspended for three years and was also ordered to vacate his post.

The ANC membership of the other four leaders was suspended for two years, with the sanction itself suspended for three years.

They were expected to argue that the league was independent of the ANC and that the disciplinary committee had relied on the league's "old" constitution when it handed down its sentences.