African National Congress president Jacob Zuma on Friday lashed out at the media for "peddling" stories on President Kgalema Motlanthe's private life.

Writing on the ANC website, Zuma said the "invasion" of Motlanthe's private life was proof that the ANC's strength and growth "is clearly causing uneasiness in some quarters".

"Stories are published on Sundays in particular with all sorts of fictitious allegations about the ANC and its leadership. There is also an intensification of focus into the private lives of senior ANC leaders, to sow further confusion," Zuma said.

Some newspapers last week carried stories on Motlanthe's love- life, in which the president of the country was portrayed as a womaniser.

"We have noticed attempts to divert attention from our message and programme of action. There is also an intensification of focus into the private lives of senior ANC leaders, to sow further confusion," he said.

Zuma said the media was now subjecting Motlanthe to the same hostile treatment it had been subjecting him to for years.

"Initially the spotlight was on the ANC president, and the latest target is the ANC deputy president and President of the Republic,Kgalema Motlanthe.

"There can be no justification for this type of invasion of the privacy of any individual by the media," he said.

The ANC was fully behind Motlanthe and would therefore defend his right to dignity.

"We stand by our deputy president - his private life has nothing to do with the way he runs the country or how he executes his tasks as the ANC deputy president," Zuma said.

The ANC president also rejected rumours that SA Communist Party General Secretary Blade Nzimande was spearheading a campaign against Motlanthe.

"The relationship between the ANC and its Alliance partners is sound and constructive.

"Given this open relationship, we can never be fooled by false rumours such as those claiming that NEC member and SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande is running a campaign to prevent Motlanthe from becoming the Deputy President of the Republic after elections," he said.