"They came to me and offered me a position to neutralise me," he was reported as saying in The Star.

Mbalula claimed he was offered the post of African National Congress deputy secretary or a position in the national executive committee in exchange for abandoning the cause of Zuma's contenders.

"They realise that they cannot survive politically. They only survive on the basis of corruption," Mbalula reportedly said.

He denied claims that he agreed to support Zuma two weeks ago at Luthuli House, the ANC's headquarters.

"I have no time for Zuma. He has caused his own problems. He marries every week."

Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj referred requests for comment to the ANC.

ANC spokesman Keith Khoza said: "It is difficult for us, as the ANC, to comment because we haven't spoken to the president, and neither did we speak to Mbalula".

We are not even aware if the discussion between them did happen."