The African National Congress Youth League has accused the media of waging a "concerted effort" to create a crisis around the personal and private life of President Kgalema Motlanthe.

"The levels of attack expose the immaturity of media coverage of politics in South Africa, which subjectively and repulsively define leaders of the ANC outside organisational mandate and process," ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu said in a statement on Monday.

In an article headlined "ANC turns against Motlanthe", the Sunday Times reported that the president was "on a 'collision course' after failing to toe the line".

The newspaper wrote of a "bitter behind-the-scenes war" between the ANC and Motlanthe because he, among others:

- Failed to withdraw the government's support of a Supreme Court of Appeal action by former president Thabo Mbeki to overturn the ruling which resulted in the setting aside of charges against ANC president Jacob Zuma; and
- Axed former director of public prosecutions Vusi Pikoli without first informing the ANC.

However, ANC spokesman Carl Niehaus denied that there were "any tensions between the party and its deputy president".

On Monday, the ANCYL condemned what it termed "the continued attacks" on Motlanthe.

"The ANCYL re-asserts its support for [ANC] deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe, and affirms our last National Executive Committee decision that Comrade Kgalema should be the incoming deputy president of the Republic of South Africa.

"We again refuse to believe that there are attempts within the African National Congress to undermine and/or sideline the deputy president of the ANC," said Shivambu.

The ANCYL also defended SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande, who serves as a member of the ANC's national executive, dismissing as "baseless" accusations he faced.

The Sunday Times reported that Nzimande attacked Motlanthe at an ANC national working committee meeting last Monday for failing to sign the Broadcasting Amendment Act.

"Comrade Blade is a dedicated, focused, disciplined, and consistent cadre of our movement; and represents nothing of what the media tries to portray him as," said Shivambu.

"The ANCYL will always be at the forefront of defending our leaders against all forms of petty, miscalculated, scandalous, and ill-fated attacks.

"The leaders we elected in the 52nd National Conference of the ANC [are] credible and will lead us to an overwhelming victory in the incoming general elections and will lead a developmental state and government that are responsive to the interests of the working class and the poor," he said.