African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula accused its veterans of "de-campaigning the organisation" as the party's woes ahead of next year's elections mount. 

Following a meeting of the ANC's national working committee (NWC) on Monday, Mbalula said stalwarts and veterans were "leading a charge" against the party during a difficult time.

Mbalula said: "We call upon the veterans of the ANC to stop de-campaigning the organisation and work through its structures.

"The leadership of the ANC from its president, Cyril Ramaphosa, and all of us have availed ourselves to the counsel and direction of our veterans and stalwarts," Mbalula said. 

He said that, despite this, veterans had led a charge against the party. 

Mbalula said:

They attack the ANC and de-campaign us when we are facing challenging issues. If there is anywhere where we err, as leaders, we are available, even at midnight.

"If they wish to call on us, as they have done on numerous occasions on issues of renewal and so on, we, as leadership elected at Nasrec in the past conference, believe we are seized with these matters," Mbalula said.   

In October, former president Thabo Mbeki launched a blistering attack against the ANC leadership, saying nothing was being done to renew the party.

Other party veterans have bemoaned the state of the country under the ANC. 

Mbalula's comments come as the ANC is in the midst of a debt quagmire, facing possible liquidation related to a R140-million debt owed to events company, Ezulweni Investments. 

ANC Veterans League spokesperson Snuki Zikalala said party veterans would never de-campaign the ANC.

"We are actively campaigning for the ANC ahead of the elections," he said.

In a separate interview on Tuesday, Zikalala told News24 they were concerned about the debt, but they had been assured the matter would be resolved.

"We did inquire [on Monday], but the treasurer-general told us the matter would be adequately resolved, and we have to believe what they tell us."

On Monday, the Sheriff of the Gauteng High Court showed up at Luthuli House to attempt to seize furniture and assets. 

The Sheriff tried to attach the ANC's furniture this week to recoup the money owed by the ANC as per a writ order.

News 24 was reliably informed that some veterans had met with Ezulweni, to resolve the impasse.

However, Zikalala denied there was a meeting. 

By 17:00 on Wednesday, the ANC had not responded to Ezulweni's demand to deposit the money into a trust account.