The media was describing the situation within the ANC as a crisis, but the party itself did not see it this way, ANC president Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday

"We have a problem that the media calls it a crisis. Because some individuals decided to declare that 'we are leaving the ANC', it is not a crisis."

Zuma said it was not the first time in the ANC that cadres at leadership level had decided to leave the ANC.

Those who were leaving were not doing so because of policy differences.

"They are not talking about a situation of policy differences. We are talking about people who feel they were not elected. They are not used to being not elected."

Zuma said it was a situation that the party would deal with as time continued.

"The ANC is very much alive," Zuma told journalists after addressing several hundred party supporters during a youth rally in Thabong, Welkom.

Nevertheless, Zuma urged ANC members that it was "important" they work tirelessly to make it a stronger and a more united organisation.

He said the ANC was the oldest organisation members knew and that they knew its weaknesses and its strengths.

Voting for the unknown?

"It should take a lot from a voter to vote for something you do not know," Zuma said referring to those members who were planning a new party.

"Organisations come and go. The ANC has policies that are tested in the struggle and also tested in government."

He also appealed to ANC members to behave well because the party had nothing to lose. "Members of the ANC, no matter how provoked they are, must behave."

Zuma confirmed that former president Thabo Mbeki had written a letter to him about dissidents who had decided to leave the ANC.

In the letter it is believed Mbeki said the group did not have his blessing.

"So, he has made that point, but I do not think I would like to discuss his letter in public," Zuma said.

Speaking to the youth, Zuma said the next administration would not allow young people to loiter in the streets during school time.

He said young people should spend less time in taverns and be more active in schools. "They must prepare for the future. We cannot waste our youth." He urged the young to register for the coming general election and to go and vote.

"Vote and shape the future," Zuma said, adding that South Africa's youth should take an interest in politics and pay attention to political activities.

Meeting with various groups

Many supporters were dressed in white, yellow, and red and black t-shirts, bearing slogans reading: "Stop the political trial. Drop all charges". Others said "Jacob Zuma for President in 2009","100 percent JZ" and "Your vote is no secret. Jacob Zuma X".

The ANC president was on a two-day visit to the Free State. He met and talked with various groups in the Goldfields on Tuesday.

Amongst those were a large group of pensioners who had an impromptu imbizo with Zuma on issues that bothered them.

The problems were mostly related to housing and social grants.

Addressing the crowd, Free State ANC chairperson Ace Magashule said election campaigning had started and was in full swing in the province.

Magashule also strongly criticised Free State dissidents such as Terror Lekota and Vax Mayekiso who had decided to throw their weight behind a national convention.

Zuma was expected to meet several civil and party groups in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

Sapa