Johannesburg ( CNN ) -- South Africa 's ruling party banned its controversial youth leader Julius Malema from taking part in any party activities Wednesday , after he gave a speech that was critical of President Jacob Zuma . Malema 's suspension from the African National Congress ( ANC ) comes into immediate effect , the party 's national disciplinary committee said in a statement . Malema had already been suspended from membership of the party in November but was still allowed to attend party meetings while the appeals process was in progress . Malema 's appeal against the disciplinary committee 's ruling will be heard on April 12 . The latest sanction from the disciplinary panel follows a speech Malema made Friday in which he suggested that Zuma was running the party in a dictatorial and intolerant way . `` It is under President Zuma that we have seen the youth of the ANC being traumatized , being expelled from their own home , '' Malema said , according to the ANC statement . `` It is under President Zuma we have seen a critical voice being suppressed . We have seen under President Zuma , democracy being replaced with dictatorship . '' The disciplinary panel said the youth leader 's remarks constituted `` a very serious violation '' of the party 's constitution . Malema attracts wide popular support and his suspension may cause anger among his base . He and the youth league helped propel Zuma to power in 2009 , but have more recently become his fiercest critics , accusing his administration of failing to improve the lives of the poor . The party is due to elect a new leader in December this year , who will likely lead the party into national elections in 2014 . Malema has previously been mentioned as a potential contender for the role . Malema was suspended for five years after the disciplinary hearing last November but was allowed to appeal . He faced a string of charges , including sowing party divisions by comparing Zuma to his predecessor , Thabo Mbeki , and bringing the party into disrepute by urging the toppling of the Botswana government . In July , Malema criticized South Africa 's decision to vote for a no-fly zone over Libya and accused the government of failing to prioritize the African agenda . `` In the past , we know President Mbeki used to represent that agenda very well , '' Malema was quoted as saying at the time . Malema 's supporters considered the disciplinary action an attempt to silence the anti-Zuma voice within the ruling party . Malema has also been the subject of a criminal investigation by the national revenue service over allegations he used his political position to influence the awarding of government tenders . CNN 's Nima Elbagir , Bharati Naik and Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report .
The sanction comes after Mr Malema made a speech critical of President Mills . He is banned from taking part in any party activities , the ANC 's disciplinary committee says . He was suspended in November but continues to attend party meetings pending appeal . The youth wing , who helped bring Zuma to power in 2009 , has wide popular support .