The DA came out fighting yesterday after Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande labelled its leaders "two stooges and a madam" at the weekend.

Yesterday, DA spokesman Lindiwe Mazibuko labelled the ANC a "party of racial nationalism" that sought to divide South Africa on racial lines to "shore up its rapidly eroding support base".

Nzimande said at Cosatu's Workers' Day celebrations at Athlone stadium in Cape Town on Sunday that the DA was desperate to prove it was not dominated by white suburban interests.

"It is trying to project a non-racial image with that serial opportunist [Patricia] De Lille and a born-free, Model C-school [pupil] and the boss lady. Two stooges and a madam," said Nzimande.

Mazibuko said the reason for the "ANC's new tactic is that it doesn't have a leg to stand on in terms of governance and delivery".

"You must have heard Blade Nzimande talking about stooges and madams - that's a classic example of how the ANC engages with race. They can't possibly see a circumstance where three women of different races could be equals . that says a lot about the thinking of the ANC," said Mazibuko.

"The DA has engaged very, very well and very, very openly on the issue of race. And we have stated quite clearly - for example when Helen [Zille] spoke on Freedom Day on Solomon Mahlangu Square - our view on what the past means to South Africa.

"But . any attempt by the ANC to rubbish the DA's record by calling us racist is a red herring. That's not what this election is about. It is about leadership through unifying people and being a unifying leader and not a divisive leader . and it's about comparison of service delivery records," said Mazibuko.