President Jacob Zuma is not laughing at all South Africans, just those who voted for him, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said on Friday.

"South Africans you must not worry. He is laughing at those who are voting for him and his party," he told the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Johannesburg.

"Despite everything else we have shown to South Africa, despite evidence displayed for all to see, they still voted for him."

Malema was responding to a question about whether he would laugh in Parliament if he was president of the country.

This followed Zuma's question-and-answer session in Parliament on Thursday when the president's signature giggle raised the ire of some MPs.

When EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi complained, asking him to take the House seriously, an unrepentant Zuma told him he would always laugh.

"Does it hurt you when I laugh? He, he, he," he said, chortling some more.

'He knows Cyril will arrest him'

Malema told the chamber that he wanted to stand up during the sitting in Parliament and say: "It's not your laugh that is hurting, you are hurting yourself.

"You are a man in pain. You can never steal from people and sleep at night. Never."

Malema said unemployment and poverty were not laughing matters.

He took the opportunity to weigh in on the African National Congress's (ANC's) 2017 succession battle.

He told the chamber the only reason Zuma wanted his ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to be elected president was because he knew she would not arrest him.

"He knows Cyril [Ramaphosa] will arrest him. That's why the 'premier league' prefers Zuma's wife," Malema said

The premier league is said to include North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo, Free State Premier Ace Magashule and Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza. The three are also the ANC chairpersons in their respective provinces.

Their plan is allegedly to entrench themselves as leaders or kingmakers for 2017 when Zuma's successor will be elected.

It is believed the group wants Dlamini-Zuma to lead the ANC and to block Ramaphosa from taking over from Zuma.

"He's going to jail... If Cyril becomes president, definitely Cyril will arrest him," Malema said.

News24.com