Nkandla bond reports attempt to influence Mangaung vote: ANC

Reports that President Jacob Zuma did not have a bond for his Nkandla home were an attempt to influence the ANC's elective conference in Mangaung, the party said on Wednesday.

"The suggestion that there was no bond was made with bad intentions to undermine the president. It also seeks to unduly influence outcomes going to Mangaung," the African National Congress said in a statement.

The ruling party was responding to reports that there was no bond registered against Zuma's Nkandla home in KwaZulu-Natal.

Zuma told Parliament last week that he sought to expand his home and that he approached a bank to secure a bond. He said he was still paying a bond on the first phase of his home.

The ANC said those claiming there was no proof of any bond were hoping to access confidential information from banks.

"In terms of the law that governs commercial transactions, there is an obligation on the part of transacting parties to protect private and confidential information."

The party called for respect for Zuma and "truthful reporting".

It said the request by opposition parties to the Speaker of the National Assembly to investigate the matter was an abuse of the Speaker's office.

"It is evident that the opposition has run out of genuine issues and resort to clutching at straws."

The "noises" on the Nkandla issue were the same as the opposition's motion of no confidence in Zuma.

"We want to state and caution media in general and opposition parties that ANC members, particularly delegates to the Mangaung conference, can never be dictated to by any outside sources when it comes to ANC internal democracy."