ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema's claim that Jacob Zuma will lead South Africa even if it is from prison is outrageous, the Democratic Alliance said on Thursday.

Malema told the African National Congress' Free State congress on Wednesday the country's prosecutors should save themselves "embarrassment" and drop charges against Zuma.

"We can't imagine the courts finding [Zuma] guilty because if you arrest him, he will lead us from prison," he said.

DA parliamentary leader Sandra Botha condemned Malema's remarks.

"[His] latest statements... that Jacob Zuma will rule even if he has to rule from prison, and his call (for the second time) that the DA should be eliminated, are as outrageous as they are dangerous," she said in a statement.

Referring to Malema's "kill for Zuma" statement, made last month, she said the DA would continue to press ahead with charges of incitement to commit public violence against him.

"We have confirmed this morning, the charges... are being investigated by the Organised Crime unit at Parkway Police Station in Bloemfontein."

Sapa