"Can you imagine Julius Malema becoming president of the country? Oh, dear God, may that day never dawn in our lifetime, or that of our children," Mthembu said in an interview with television channel eNCA on Wednesday, Beeld newspaper reported on Thursday.

According to the report he also said Malema should never have been an ANC member because he was a bad person.

Malema should stop lobbying opinion on whether president Jacob Zuma should be nominated as ANC leader, Mthembu said.

"He's not even a member of the ANC. He can't nominate anybody. People join the ANC voluntarily, but then they're required to maintain certain values, and Julius couldn't do it."

Mthembu also warned any ANC leaders who might be contemplating support of Malema, who faces charges of money-laundering.

"He's too factious... he thinks he's everything. He might support a leader now, but he'll do a complete about-face within three years," he said.