Right-wing elements are "misusing" the African National Congress's (ANC's) sensitivity to diversity, Gauteng party secretary David Makhura said on Wednesday.

"We [ANC] have been extremely sensitive to the diversity of our people... we think this sensitivity has been misused by the other side," he said in Johannesburg.

"We are talking about those who oppose the transformation in South Africa."

Makhura was briefing reporters on a meeting of the tripartite alliance partners in Gauteng.

Issues discussed included opposition to name changes, court actions against the use of struggle songs, and court applications against affirmative action.

Makhura said that these actions reflected growing confidence by opponents of transformation.

"We are pained by this confidence of right wing elements..."

The alliance in Gauteng had resolved to support the renaming of Pretoria to Tshwane - a change vehemently opposed by Afrikaner interest body Afriforum.

The alliance was not "calling for war", but wanted to engage those in opposition to transformation through democratic means, Makhura said.