Endorsing ANC youth firebrand Julius Malema as worthy of "inheriting the ANC" was like saying "Goebbels was a romantic poet", the DA Youth said on Monday.

It was responding to a report in The Star newspaper that President Jacob Zuma described Malema at the weekend as a "leader in the making" and worthy of "inheriting the ANC".

But the Democratic Alliance Youth said in a statement this raised questions about Zuma's understanding of leadership.

"It is easy to refute the suitability of Julius Malema for pretty much any position of authority; indeed, that refutation is routinely achieved by Malema himself and there is no need for the DA to set out that case here," said the DA Youth.

"Of more immediate concern is what such an announcement says about President Jacob Zuma and his particular understanding of leadership and the requirements inherent to it."

Measured by the DA Youth's requirements for a good leader, Malema falls "woefully short".

"Have we really stooped down to debating the degree to which Julius Malema epitomises good judgement, vision and the ability to unify people behind a cause?

"It's like being forced to discuss the idea that Goebbels was a romantic poet," said the DA Youth, referring to Joseph Goebbels, who was German dictator Adolf Hitler's propaganda minister.

Zuma made headlines when he sang Malema's praises in Limpopo on Sunday.

"Some of us are no longer young, and when we go across the mountain in terms of age, we are happy that when we go on, the organisation will remain in real hands of [those] who will think about the people," Zuma reportedly said.

"The ANC recognises talent and leadership and we give people an opportunity.

"Julius has illustrated that he is indeed a good leader and that he understands the people," said Zuma.

He was speaking in Malema's hometown of Seshego, where the youth league leader had helped to build a house and a church.

Zuma asked the congregation to pray for Malema "not to falter along the way, because here you have a leader in the making".

Sapa

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