ANC Youth League president Julius Malema's ANC membership has been suspended with immediate effect, the party's national disciplinary committee (NDC) said on Wednesday.

This followed Malema's verbal attack on President Jacob Zuma on Friday when he called him a dictator and said he was suppressing the league.

"After due consideration, the NDC was satisfied that this utterance constitutes a very serious violation of the ANC Constitution and that the institution of disciplinary action... of the ANC Constitution is warranted," NDC chairman Derek Hanekom said in a statement.

Malema was informed on Wednesday morning of his immediate temporary suspension and that disciplinary proceedings would be instituted against him by the NDC.  -Sapa