African National Congress Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said an attack on the ANC's unity was an attack on attempts to unify the country and liberate black people.

Mantashe used his speech at a seminar on democracy on Tuesday to attack former ANC chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota's new formation, saying that a divided movement would affect the ability of the ruling party to help its people and, in the same breath, he added society would look more democratic with additional political parties.

Mantashe also said that the ANC was at its best when under siege.

He said the new political formation would be a centre right party that would protect the interests of what he called the "property class", driving home his comment that the splinter movement was driven by people who were obsessed with power.