This was an amendment proposed to the African National Congress' constitution at its national executive committee (NEC) meeting this weekend, City Press reported.

Other crimes for which members could be expelled were money laundering, racketeering, receiving the proceeds of unlawful activities or financial impropriety.

The newspaper said it was in possession of a copy of the proposed new constitution.

A task team led by Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Collins Chabane had also included a clause that ANC deployees to government had to sign contracts with the ANC.

This would mean that they could be recalled if they did not perform their duties in line with the ANC's rules.

According to the newspaper the revised constitution closed the loopholes which former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema used during his disciplinary process.

It also allowed for the temporary suspension of members who were found guilty by the disciplinary committee, but were awaiting appeal.

The ANC's NEC is holding its meeting at The St George Hotel, in Irene --the last meeting of the NEC elected at Polokwane in 2007.

On Friday, ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said President Jacob Zuma's political overview dealt with the issue of discipline within the party.

"The president raised mainly organisational issues. As you will know, we are going to an elective conference in less than a month's time, so the president spoke on the strengths and weaknesses of the ANC," Mthembu said.

"One of the issues that the president raised and continues to raise is the issue of instilling discipline in the ANC."

He said the incoming NEC would have to deal with many of these issues.

The party is holding its national elective conference in Mangaung next month.