ANC president Jacob Zuma on Friday called on his supporters to be tolerant and not interfere with "any activities of other political parties".

"We openly advocate the notion that new ideas are endemic to the development of a true developmental state," Zuma said in a message to Daily Sun readers published on Friday.

"We therefore call for political tolerance from the members and supporters of the ANC at all times and call for no interference with any activities of other political parties and formations.

"The ANC will regard any actions which bring the organisation into disrepute as acts of ill-discipline and to be un-ANC in character," added Zuma.

He said a multi-party democracy accommodated the "formation of new parties and South Africa is no exception".

"The Constitution of the ANC enjoins all its members to be tolerant of the views of others."

Zuma said the Constitution proclaimed the freedoms of speech and association.

"The ANC firmly believes that all South Africans must be able to express their views openly without hindrance or fear of intimidation," said Zuma.

"This is the basic right advocated in the Freedom Charter and the Bill of Rights enshrined in our Constitution."

Sapa