President Jacob Zuma has said he would marry a Venda woman if he was not already married to his four wives because they "even lie down to show respect for other people", The Star newspaper reported on Friday.

According to the report, he was addressing hundreds of people at Impendle in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands earlier this week, where he emphasised the importance of respect.

Zuma said young women and men must exercise self-respect and respect for others.

"When I was in Venda recently, I was so impressed to see how people there express respect for other people," Zuma reportedly said.

"A woman would clap her hands and even lie down to show respect."

The president said he was impressed, and added to laughter that were he not already married, he would go to Venda to look for a woman.

His comments were reportedly criticised by the Eastern Cape-based Support Centre, which deals with women's rights.

Centre co-ordinator Phumla Ndende said that before he "appreciated" a culture, Zuma should first assess if that culture was oppressing women.

The Star could not immediately get comment from presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj.