African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema has vowed that the youth of South Africa would die in supporting ANC president Jacob Zuma.

"We are prepared to die for Zuma," Malema told a Youth Day rally in Thaba Nchu in the Free State.

"We are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma," Malema added at the end of his speech, while the crowd clapped hands and laughed.

Earlier, Malema said there was no question that the ANC president would be the country's next president.

He told the gathering that those who did not respect the current ANC leadership should go.

Malema said those in the party that have indicated that they would not be available for positions in the new government, under Zuma, should not wait but leave now.

He also reiterated that the Scorpions case against Zuma, expected to begin later this year in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, should be dropped.

"The future belongs to us.

"We do not want a situation where the state prosecutes its own president," Malema said.

He said the ANCYL was planning to assemble a legal team to try to get the case against Zuma thrown out of court.

"This issue is dividing the country," said Malema, adding that the Youth League would turn to the court to try to stop this issue.

Malema also urged the youth not to take part in xenophobic attacks.

"Those that beat up foreign nationals must rot in jail," he said.