ANC Youth League president Julius Malema's statements at the weekend were disingenuous, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Tuesday.
"The assertion made by Julius Malema that new ideas were suppressed is not only disingenuous, but also a deliberate falsehood," Mantashe told reporters in Johannesburg.
He said it was unfortunate that the youth league had chosen the ANC's centenary year to call the party undemocratic and to try sow division within the organisation.
On Friday, Malema criticised President Jacob Zuma's leadership during a centenary lecture in Johannesburg. He said Zuma had replaced democracy with dictatorship and that the ANCYL was being traumatised and suppressed under Zuma's leadership.
Mantashe said these statements would be investigated. He was reading from a statement on behalf of the ANC's top six officials.
Mantashe was joined by Zuma, his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe, treasurer Mathews Phosa, national chairwoman Baleka Mbete and deputy secretary general Thandi Modise.
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