Tokyo Sexwale wants a thorough investigation into an intelligence report placing him at the centre of a plot to unseat President Jacob Zuma, he said on Thursday.

"A thorough investigation is going to have to be conducted to get to the bottom of this ugly episode," Sexwale, the human settlements minister and a member of the African National Congress' (ANC's) national executive committee, told media in Pretoria.

"We want to get to the bottom of this sordid matter."

Sexwale was reacting to an intelligence report which surfaced at the bail application hearing of murder-accused crime intelligence boss, Richard Mdluli.

The alleged intelligence report portrays Sexwale as having presidential ambitions, with high-level ANC members named as coconspirators.

Sexwale dismissed the report as a fake created to inflict "maximum damage" and to "sow confusion" – he charged that the report had ramifications for the ruling alliance.

An angry Sexwale said he wanted answers. He wants to know who commanded Mdluli to conduct the operation, who he was reporting to, which other high-level intelligence officers worked with Mdluli and who provided the resources for the operation.

Another key question, he said, was "are there any other covert operations" unfolding.

He also urged Mdluli to "come clean" on which other politicians or government officials, if any, were involved.

Sexwale has appointed a legal team to keep a "watching brief" on the Mdluli case and to apply for discovery of all documents relating to the operation from the court and elsewhere.

Sexwale also wants his legal team to advise him on the need for any criminal or civil action to be taken by him.

The operation amounted to a "serious abuse of office" if true.

"I have had enough of these rumours. This time there is an address," he said.