ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe is expected to shed light on the future of the league at today's briefing at Luthuli House.

Ahead of the ANC elective conference in Mangaung last month, some in the party proposed that the youth league be stripped of its powers and reduced to a "desk' at Luthuli House. That motion, pushed by Mpumalanga delegates, was dismissed because other members felt that the league could be helped to find its centre.

While the ANC prepares to rescue its youth wing, intense lobbying is under way in provinces to fill the post left vacant by Malema.

After the party's national executive committee meeting on Friday in Durban, youth league leaders said the executive would appoint senior ANC leaders to help the league clean up its act.

A youth league member on the national executive committeewho asked not to be named said the ANC wanted to see "those vacancies filled".

Youth league secretary Sindiso Magaqa, who was slapped with a year's suspension, is expected to return to his position in April.

"The main priority right now is the vacant posts and the ANC might decide to set up a committee to work with the youth league," the member said.

"There was talk of a special national general council meeting [in March] but that would be costly and I doubt the ANC would want to spend a lot of money to transport and accommodate all branches at this stage.

"What could work better is an extended NEC meeting to which provincial leaders would also be invited."

Those said to be in the running to take over from Malema include Pule Mabe, whose election to the ANC's NEC will boost his chances; and former youth league deputy president Andile Lungisa, who fell out of favour when Malema was in charge.

The Eastern Cape is said to be pushing for its youth league chairman, Ayanda Matiti, to be given a top post.