The Democratic Alliance on Wednesday laid charges of intimidation against the Free State ANC Youth League chairman Thebe Meeko.

On Tuesday, the party laid a complaint of hate speech with the Equality Court against Meeko.

DA spokesperson Wilmot James said Meeko was quoted in the media as saying that University of the Free State vice chancellor Professor Jonathan Jansen should be "shot and killed because he is a racist".

"Prior to reportedly saying this, Mr Meeko also addressed a crowd, with video footage of the event confirming that Meeko said: 'like President Jacob Zuma when he said the police must meet fire with fire, the shoot-to-kill approach must also apply to all the racists, including Jansen, because he is a racist'."

James said the youth league had now "tried to backtrack by claiming that they were referring to racism and not Professor Jansen".

"Once again the youth league's 'selective memory' and dishonest disposition is palpable for all to see.

"We laid the charge with the Equality Court because the statements attributed to Meeko clearly equate to hate speech. Such conduct violates the Constitution, and constitutes an incitement to cause physical harm to Mr Jansen," he said.

The abuse of speaking on a public platform could no longer be tolerated.

The statement in question should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

"It is an absolute disgrace. It is embarrassing for us as a country, for the ANC and for the government. It must be met with immediate and decisive consequences."