Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema's comments that the ANC Youth League will nominate Ace Magashule as their preferred presidential candidate are "very far from the truth", this is according to the ruling party's youth structure

ANCYL spokesperson Mlondi Mkhize said that they will not be naming any presidential candidate until the nominations process is officially open in June.

This comes after Malema tweeted that the youth league will be nominating Free State premier Magashule for the top post.

Malema's comments comes after the ANCYL leader Collen Maine said that their preferred candidate will send 'shockwaves' throughout the ruling party when they finally make their nomination.

"That is very far from the truth. The youth league has not taken any decision on who to nominate. The ANC said the nomination process is not open," said Mkhize.

He said that the youth league will be looking into leaders who have managed to transform their departments, regions and structure before deciding on the name to put forward.

"We are still engaging on principle, from that point we are going to look at the track records, looking on departments and how far they are," he said.

A perfect presidential candidate for the youth league is someone who has, according to Mkhize, transformed their regions and departments towards the beneficiation of a young black entrepreneur. Someone who has made strides in transferring wealth and skills back to the majority.

He said that this perfect candidate could be anyone, even those who have already been named as possible successors.

Names that have been thrown into the hat include Africa Union Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC national chairperson Baleka Mbete.

Mkhize said that they are not ruling out those who have already raised their hands for the top post.

"We are not necessarily saying we are not affirming or confirming that we will choose those who have already been nominated. What we are saying is that we are dismantling the groupings and the factions in the ANC, even the premier league. We are looking at comrades from different areas with different expertise.

"We don't care whether you are from group A or group B, if we see that you have made transformation we will nominate and it will be up to the individual to decline. We will take comrades from different lobby groups," explained Mkhize.

He said they will be doing this so that South Africans can regain confidence in the ANC.