They can kill the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Parliament, but President Jacob Zuma cannot continue being a president, the party's leader Julius Malema said on Sunday.

Malema was addressing hundreds of supporters in Gugulethu in Cape Town, urging them to help elect the EFF to the Cape metro.

He said they had performed miracles in Parliament, turning it upside down, and there was nothing wrong with that.

He questioned how Zuma could still be a president, "when he had been found wanting by the Constitutional Court".

"They can kill us if they want in Parliament, but Zuma is not our president. Repeat it to yourself: 'Zuma is not my president'. Not on our watch," he said.

Malema  accused Zuma of being a criminal and a thief.

"He can sue me, but he is a criminal. The number one thief. Your children get jailed for stealing a braai pack because they are hungry, and yet he is still a president."

He said Zuma was a "mess" way before Nkandla, and they should have seen it.

He accused the president of destroying nearly every arm of government, with the exception of the judiciary.

"The DA (Democratic Alliance) could not make Zuma pay back the money, and we did. Put us in the Cape metro and you will see what we can do," he said.

He said DA leader Mmusi Maimane was only there for a salary.

"Oh shame man uMaimane. He is not the leader of the DA. It is still being led by Helen Zille."

Malema pledged to not disappoint his voters.

Don’t vote with emotions

He urged people not to vote with emotions.

"You can't say you are voting for [former president Nelson] Mandela. He is no more. Be honest with yourself. You are voting for Zuma, and not 'khongolose'," he said. Khongolose is a Zulu word for congress, a reference to the African National Congress.

Malema said Zuma was nothing like Mandela.

"Look at that head. They are nothing alike," he said.

He called for young people to be introspective and start asking difficult questions to their parties.