The ANC has not gone to the dogs but the dogs have left the ANC, said the ANC Women's League on Monday.

"Now that the dogs are leaving, there will be peace and we will be stronger. The dogs arrived in the ANC and they have left," said ANCWL president Angie Motshekga, referring to dissidents led by Terror Lekota and Mluleki George.

Motshekga expressed disappointment at the call for a convention which could see the formation of a breakaway political party.

"While democracy accommodates the formation of new parties, it is the purpose, the manner, and the timing of the formation of the call for the convention that calls for concern."

She said she had always known Lekota to be "attention seeking and very loud" after working with him, adding that the league waited for him to "fly as high as he could" before they could make a public statement about his actions.

Lekota and George were suspended form the ANC a week ago, while former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa tended his resignation in support of the upcoming convention.

The league called on all the ruling party members and supporters to defend the organisation and work hard in building a healthy nation.

"It is at times like these that we stand in unity to defend our organisation and gains of the new democracy."