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The league's president was in East London yesterday to visit Siyambonga Ndabeni, who is recovering at St Dominic's Hospital after being shot, allegedly by a neighbour, during an argument about Malema. Ndabeni is in a stable condition.

The man alleged to have pulled the trigger, Gerdus Greyvenstein, made a brief appearance in the Queenstown Magistrate's Court, where he was charged with attempted murder.

It is alleged that Greyvenstein shot Ndabeni twice in the chest.

Ndabeni's friend, Siyabulela Dumalisile, who claimed to have witnessed the shooting, said earlier this week that Greyvenstein had hurled "abusive and racial" comments at him and Ndabeni on the night of the shooting.

He also alleged that Greyvenstein, who lives on a neighbouring property, had blinded them with a big flashlight while calling them "k***s" before firing his weapon.

Malema labelled the shooting "barbaric" and "unacceptable" after 17 years of democracy.

He said the youth league would discuss with Justice Minister Jeff Radebe the possibility of elevating the seriousness with which racial crimes were treated by the courts.

"To show we are intolerant of racism, any racism should be treated the same as murder and rape. It must belong to the category of serious crimes, so that people know that when you commit a racial act you are likely to be treated as a murderer in South Africa.

"This must be condemned at all costs, and this person doesn't deserve to be among us at all. Those are barbaric acts which belong to the past . especially on the eve of the birthday of Nelson Mandela, who has always emphasised reconciliation and unity," Malema said.

He called for people to remain calm and let the law take its course, though the shooting occurred only a few hours before the world celebrated Madiba's 93rd birthday.

He said South Africans, both white and black, should not be influenced by such an act.

"Peace-loving South Africans are actually disappointed. This man has become a disappointment among white people."

Malema said he would be keeping a close watch on the case.

He slammed the R1000 bail of a Pretoria man who switched street signs bearing Mandela's name last week.

"That's a huge insult, but what do you do, because we said the judiciary should be independent. Now it goes beyond judges . it needs political leadership and that's why we're talking about elevating racial offences."

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said that, as a member of the public, Malema was entitled to approach the prosecutor with his concerns.

"Prosecutors are the public's lawyers. Any citizen is entitled to bring requests or concerns to the NPA. This will be looked at and assessed," Mhaga said.

He said that Malema would not be given preferential treatment.