Questions are still being asked as to why President Jacob Zuma issued a directive for the African National Congress to distance itself from a group calling itself the Friends of the Youth League.

Analysts said they expected the organisation to disrupt memorial lectures Zuma was set to give across the country for the rest of the year.

Zuma told the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ANC that anyone found to be fraternising with the group would be subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings.

The Friends of the Youth League has campaigned for the reinstatement of Julius Malema as ANCYL president and wanted Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to replace Zuma as ANC leader at the party conference in Mangaung in December.

Independent analyst Somadoda Fikeni said: "In fact, going through these different provinces, delivering lectures would have been the most opportune moment for him to firm up his campaign for retaining the position in December."

"The challenge that began to erode on his image has to be a worrying factor."

Analysts said Malema could still be pulling the strings of the organisation from behind the scenes.

Ronald Lamola was installed as acting president after Malema's expulsion. He was put in charge of the league after the ANC banned Lamola from attending ANC National Executive Committee meetings if he did not formally take on the title.