Prosecuting ANC president Jacob Zuma when he is the country's president will embarrass South Africa *1, the ANC Youth League said on Wednesday.

"When Zuma comes back to court in August he will come back as the president of this country and the judges will have to address him as the president *2," said league president Julius Malema in Pietermaritzburg after the city's high court set the date for the next leg of Zuma's legal travails.

"I just want to ask those who are behind this case if they would be proud to prosecute their own president *4, and embarrass their own country *5."

Earlier, Judge Leona Theron set August 25 as the date for the criminal proceedings to go to court. On this date Zuma also intended applying for a permanent stay of prosecution.

Malema reiterated the league's support for Zuma as the ANC's "face for the elections".

"When we campaign we must campaign as if there are no charges against Zuma," Malema told a crowd gathered outside the court.

"We must undermine these charges *6 because they think that they will stop us."

The Young Communist League's Buti Manamela complained that Zuma was appearing for the "100th time", but said they would still support him.

"Those whose objective is to put him behind bars, we are here for Zuma," he said.

"Zuma will be president when he comes back to court, whether the National Prosecuting Authority or [it's acting head] Mokotedi Mpshe wants it or not," said Manamela.

Asif Latib, an ANC lawyer told journalists outside court that they would join Zuma's Constitutional Court application to appeal the resumption of the case, filing their own papers on February 16.

With acknowledgements to Sapa.