ANC president Jacob Zuma was adamant on Tuesday at a Johannesburg luncheon with editors that he would not debate directly with Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille -- or the new ANC breakaway party - on policy matters.

They should rather take their policies directly to the electorate, as the ANC would, he said.

Zille recently challenged Zuma to a public debate on policies after he told a party rally he was ready to engage the policies of the breakaway Congress of the People (COP) when these were set out.

Zille's challenge was rejected.

Editors wanted to know again if Zuma was prepared to debate with Zille and the COP.

Zuma replied the issue was rather what Zille was trying to achieve with her challenge. It was not clear.

"We are left to speculate. There could be a suspicion that here is a person trying to elevate herself by debating with the ruling party."

The ANC believed it should go directly to the electorate with its own policies.

"Why should we go to the opposition to debate the policy? Zille should go to the electorate herself."

The ANC president reiterated he had not said at the rally that he was ready to engage in policy debate with the COP. What he had said was that he was ready to engage their policies.