President Jacob Zuma has come under fire for saying that people who opt to vote for opposition parties choose what he termed "hell".

The SABC reports speaking in Zulu, Zuma said if one voted for the ANC, one chose heaven but a vote for the opposition meant hell.

He was addressing people in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape as part of the ANC's registration drive ahead of the 2011 local government elections.

Responding to the statement African Christian Democratic Party president Kenneth Meshoe said Zuma's comments were a disgrace.

Meshoe said no angels would be wearing ANC colours and Zuma's statement was simply blasphemous.

"... I am shocked to hear that the South African president would make such a ludicrous statement. It is not only shocking but it is disappointing to hear the head of state that should be an example of integrity choosing to be the laughing stock of the nation by being deceptive.

"This is nothing but deceptive. Nobody can access heaven because of their membership of a political party. For him to suggest that the angels in heaven are also wearing the colours of the ANC, that is nothing but blasphemy.

"All the Christians in the ANC should right a petition to their president and also ask the president to apologise for such shocking blasphemy... angels are not political beings," he told the broadcaster.

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