The abduction of former ANC national chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota’s bodyguard is a cowardly criminal act, the ANC said on Saturday.

"The ANC neither subscribes nor supports any form of violence to settle political differences.

"This is nothing else but a cowardly criminal act which has no relation with Lekota’s criticism of the ANC leadership," said the party in a statement.

Abducted by gunmen on Friday

On Friday, Lekota's bodyguard, Sello Mpyaatona, was abducted by armed gunmen outside Pretoria.

Lekota told Sapa the incident appeared to be related to his criticism of the new African National Congress leadership earlier in the week.

"One of the abductors told him, 'this party you and Lekota want to form, you will form in heaven'."

Lekota said his bodyguard was accosted at about 9am after visiting his medical doctor at Section J J in Soshanguve, northwest of Pretoria.

He was made to stop his car by an armed man who then got in and made him drive.

"Sello was directed to follow a gravel road and later ordered to stop in a field. After searching the car, they took two cellphones, Sello's watch, about R5000 in cash, and the car keys," said Lekota.

He said the remark about a new party was made by one of the gunmen before they left in another car.

The ANC said on Saturday it condemned the abduction and urged the SA police to bring the perpetrators to book.

The right to free speech

The party said it stood by the constitutional right to free speech and association.

"We respect Lekota’s democratic right to express his views on any issue and his right to form a political party.

"The practice of multi-party democracy accommodates the formation of new parties.

"In democracies around the world, it is a normal occurrence in the hustle and bustle of politics, and South Africa is no exception," said the party.

The ANC said it was working hard preparing for next year's election and did not want to be detracted from its mission.

Sapa