African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema is politically irrelevant and does not understand the constitution, the Democratic Alliance Youth said on Thursday.

"Malema's vision for South Africa demonstrates his complete lack of understanding of the constitution, the separation of powers, and the rule of law," said DA Youth national leader Khume Ramulifho in a statement.

He said the ANCYL's falling membership and closing of branches clearly demonstrated its political irrelevance.

"The ANCYL is... considered irrelevant by the youth of South Africa, who are rapidly becoming alienated by the violent and noisy rhetoric of its leadership."

Ramulifho said the DA Youth was gaining momentum as a viable home for South African youth.

He said the DA Student Organisation's victory at the University of Cape Towns SRC elections, one year after its formation, was proof of this.

The DA Youth challenged Malema to a debate about the importance of constitutional democracy in South Africa and the role of the youth in protecting these freedoms.

Responding to the DA's comments. ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu said the DA Youth was a "non-existent" organisation. "They want to up their political game by challenging us. We can only be challenged by existing structures," he said.