The ANC's disciplinary appeals committee's decision to uphold an October guilty ruling against Malema has not only exposed divisions in provincial organisations of the league but has reopened the succession debate.

In his verdict, Cyril Ramaphosa, chairman of the committee, found Malema, his secretary-general, Sindiso Magaqa, and spokesman Floyd Shivambu guilty of ill-discipline, bringing the ANC into disrepute and sowing division within the party.

Three other youth league leaders - deputy president Ronald Lamola, deputy secretary-general Kenetswe Mosenogi and treasurer Pule Mabe - had their suspended sentences overturned. They were accused of having "barged" into an ANC leaders' meeting.

Though Eastern Cape and Western Cape have pledged their support for the embattled Malema, other provinces are divided, with some warning that his time is up.

In Gauteng, party members have started discussing "leadership options", saying that waiting until the Mangaung elective conference in December to decide would be "suicidal" for the league.

KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo have seen a surge in anti-Malema sentiment and ANCYL members say the "discontent" is spreading.

The deputy secretary-general of the youth league in KwaZulu-Natal, Siboniso Duma, said: "The ANC is the oldest and wisest political organisation. It fired the likes of [Tennyson] Makiwane and Bantu Holomisa and it will continue to take such decisions, no matter how painful they are."

The verdict, said Duma, will remind ANC members many generations down the line that "no one is above the ANC".

Duma would, however, not be drawn on who should take over from Malema.

"We think it is premature to announce that, but there are many capable people in the provinces. For now, Ronald Lamola should step in as the deputy."

Procedurally, he said, the league should disband and a special congress should be called to elect new leaders.

The elected leaders, said Duma, will have to work overtime to unite all the structures ahead of the ANC's national conference.

"We can't afford to go there as we are. Malema has caused serious damage to the party; it is bleeding and could do so for a long time if we are not careful."

Mpumalanga's youth league executive called for a "rethink" by the ANC regarding the problems facing the league.

The secretary of the league in the province, Clarence Maseko, said the organisation had been assaulted and "imprisoned" by its members.

"Never had a revolutionary youth movement had to conduct its organisational autonomy under such difficult conditions; it is imprisoned," he said.

In North West, members want the league to fast-track the national general council meeting to elect a new leadership.

The decision by the appeals body took centre stage at the ANC Eastern Cape executive meeting yesterday, with the youth league saying it would not back down from fighting for Malema's reinstatement.

Said youth league Eastern Cape spokesman Nkosinathi Nomatiti: "We are still 100% behind Malema. We are not giving up on a political solution. We are still hopeful that the mitigating process will yield positive results."

Labelling Ramaphosa's verdict as "unfortunate", Nomatiti said its consequences would be far-reaching and could be damaging to the ANC.

"It would be terrible if the ANCYL effectively becomes a desk of the ANC without any political autonomy. Saturday's outcome does give that perception," he said.

"The ANCYL will, in essence, become a lapdog that can't raise criticism within its organisation . you are killing the youth and future of the ANC [with this decision]."

Asked about the league's succession debate, Nomatiti said the province had not "even entered that space" as the national executive committee was "intact" and could still make decisions on behalf of the league.

But two senior Eastern Cape youth league members said the province was divided over Malema, but members feared raising their objections publicly.

Said one member: "People are too scared to raise their discontent with Malema; they fear that, should they talk about it publicly, they would be out in the cold - in the wilderness if he comes back."

Gauteng youth league provincial executive members called for a "Plan B".

"Either we hold fresh elections in order to refocus the organisation or the party implodes.

"Those who are saying we should fight until Mangaung don't realise that we might not even make it to Mangaung because of these deep-seated divisions," said a Gauteng provincial executive committee member yesterday.

Gauteng youth league chairman Lebogang Maile, who last year unsuccessfully challenged Malema for the presidency, has emerged as a possible candidate to help reunite the organisation.

His backers yesterday said that, with Malema gone, a "unifier was needed - and fast".