Delivering the Ephraim Mogale Memorial Lecture to a small crowd in Moutse, Limpopo, yesterday, Malema said: "We are going to Mangaung and we're not going to play there. We are going to reclaim the ANC."

Malema, who is facing a five-year suspension from the ANC following his "divisive" comments about the ruling party and its current leadership, led by President Jacob Zuma, wants a change of leadership when the party holds its elective conference in December.

Yesterday, Malema said those who suppress dissent within the party would "kill the ANC".

He said former ANC president AB Xuma did not kick Mandela out of the party for his radical views.

He said Xuma was eventually removed as ANC president by ANC members.

Malema's youth league wants Zuma replaced and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe replaced by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula.

Malema also used the lecture to criticise Zuma's cabinet decision to place five Limpopo departments under national administration.

He hinted that the decision was driven by politics to sideline certain groups ahead of Mangaung.

Premier Cassel Mathale, Malema's ally, recently criticised Zuma's administration for its handling of the intervention saga.

Malema said the recent ANC provincial conference held at the University of Limpopo outside Polokwane "proved them wrong".

Mathale was re-elected as ANC provincial chairman at the conference.

"They took over the government thinking that state power will be used to win at the conference. There was a win with or without state power," said Malema.

Malema also mocked the complaints sent to the ANC national office about the apparent rigging of votes at the conference.

"How can you lodge the complaint with head office because people from there ran the elections at the conference. The elections were conducted smoothly," said Malema.

He added: "We cannot define 'smooth' according to the people who lost at the conference. The 'smooth running' is defined by ANC guidelines."