Top South African musicians will campaign for the African National Congress in the build-up to next year's general elections, the ruling party said on Tuesday.

ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte said the musicians' decision to back the party was proof of the overwhelming support the organisation enjoyed across the country.

"These artists express the views of many when they say that the ANC is their movement, and that its values are their values," she said in a statement.

The group, which launched its campaign in Johannesburg on Tuesday, included Mbongeni Ngema, Don Laka, Blondie Makhene and Mzwakhe Mbuli.

"This initiative shows the sense of ownership and responsibility that South Africans feel towards the ANC. The ANC is the only party with a vision, plan and policies to ensure the creation of a better life for all," Duarte said.

Meanwhile, the group, which issued its own statement on Tuesday, said the initiative was aimed at showing support for the ANC by mobilising communities to vote the ruling party.

"We are going to mobilise South Africans in the same way that people mobilised in support of the Release Mandela Campaign of yesteryear — we are going to our communities to teach our people about the ANC," the group said.

The musicians, who organised themselves under the banner, "Defend the ANC", were working on a collaborative album as part of the initiative.

Sapa