“The disciplinary hearing of comrade Julius Malema was postponed due to the hospitalization of the charged member,” national disciplinary committee chair Derek Hanekom said in a statement.

Malema was taken to hospital with flu-like symptoms in his hometown Polokwane on Wednesday after complaining of being sick at a public lecture the night before.

The charge of bringing the ANC into disrepute stems from Malema’s call in August for regime change in neighbouring Botswana, which he said had a “puppet government” that was “in full cooperation with imperialists.”

Malema later apologised for the remarks after a public rebuke from the ANC.

His hearing opened at the end of August but it was moved to an undisclosed location after Malema supporters clashed with police outside the ANC headquarters in the Johannesburg city centre.

It was adjourned again in September because some of the parties involved were unavailable.

Last month a court found Malema guilty of hate speech for singing a song whose lyrics mean “shoot the white farmer” but allowed him to appeal.

The court banned the singing of the song, but the ANC said it also planned to appeal the ruling.