The UDM Youth Vanguard criticised on Friday the conduct of ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.

"Mr Malema is a great comedian, but a mediocre democrat.

The fate of our country should not be determined by the likes of him," said UDM Youth Vanguard spokesperson Velile Yayi.

Malema has called for President Thabo Mbeki's head and, at a press conference on Thursday, described him as a dictator and a "dead snake we are burying this weekend". But the UDM Youth Vanguard said "this attitude... would lead to anarchy".

"Yesterday's ANCYL media conference cannot go unchallenged. They showed disrespect for both the president of the country, Thabo Mbeki, and ANC president Jacob Zuma with threats that everybody must toe the line of the ANCYL," said Yayi.

"We distance ourselves from that kind of behaviour," he added.

Yayi said the UDM believed elders needed to be treated with respect and dignity, even if one disagreed with them.

"Disagreement should not mean being disrespectful and insulting," he said.