The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has denied a report that its president Julius Malema met President Jacob Zuma and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe over his singing of the controversial "shoot the boer" lyrics, a league spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"There was never such a meeting," said league spokesman Floyd Shivambu.

He also said by SMS, in response to questions: "No one told him anything about the song."

News24 reported that Mantashe had said: "I've just come from Mahlamba-Ndlopfu [Zuma's official residence in Pretoria], where I told Malema to refrain from making inflammatory statements. He is also not allowed to sing the song ('Ayesab' amagwala') in its entirety."

Owing to the poor line with Shivambu, it could not be clarified whether Malema might have been telephoned by the two, as opposed to a personal meeting.

The ANC could not immediately confirm the report, but would hold a media briefing at its Johannesburg headquarters at 11am.

Shivambu also texted: "And the President of the ANC Youth League is still consulting with legal representatives as to the meaning of the interdict on whether the entire song is banned, or whether some parts of the song are banned."

Comment was not immediately available from Mantashe, who reportedly said: "There will be very clear outcomes regarding Malema after our conversation with him. People will be able to see the result. The ANC and the Youth League will restrain him."

He said that if singing the words "shoot the boer" was leading to polarisation in society, the ANC would put a stop to it.

"I'm no protector of Malema, but the irritation he causes and the problem... needs to be isolated and solved," Mantashe said.

Malema's singing of the lyrics came to a head when AWB leader Eugene Terre'Blanche was murdered on his North West farm on Saturday. Many see the lyrics as an incitement to violence, but the ANC insists that it is part of the political heritage and should not be taken literally.

Malema has vowed to continue singing the song, in spite of two court interdicts and complaints to the Equality Court and the South African Human Rights Commission.