Three priests, include pastor Jacqueline Selolo, of the Seshego Baptist Church in his Limpopo home town, led the prayer session at Malema's grandmother's house on Tuesday, reported The Star.

The priests "cast out all demonic and the devil's spirits" that had been directed at the family. Selolo told hundreds of Malema supporters he had been appointed by God.

"If God has appointed you, that is final, no matter what people say."

At the weekend, the African National Congress's disciplinary committee of appeals announced it had dismissed appeals by Malema, his spokesman Floyd Shivambu, and four other ANCYL officials to overturn their suspensions.

They were found guilty in November 2011 of bringing the ANC into disrepute and of sowing division in the party.

However, the case had been referred back to the national disciplinary committee to allow them to argue in mitigation of their sentences.

Sunday newspapers at the weekend contained pictures of some Seshego residents burning T-shirts bearing pictures of Malema's face to celebrate his failed suspension bid.