The African National Congress(ANC) has launched an extraordinary and scathing public attack on its Justice Minister, Penuell Maduna, following his announcement that he would not be available to serve in President Thabo Mbeki's cabinet after the 2004 general election.

In a statement yesterday, the party said it "took a dim view of the fact that it had to read about Maduna's decision in the media".

"The ANC trusts that Maduna will advise the organisation of his position through the appropriate organisational channels," the ANC's National Working Committee (NWC) said after its regular meeting on Monday.

The ANC's harsh criticism of Maduna, one of the party's most senior members, came even though he said he had already informed Mbeki about his decision.

"I told the president that my family are saying I should resign because they can't take it any longer," Maduna told the Cape Times over the weekend.

The ANC was still in the process of selecting its candidates for the 2004 election, during which time there would be a formal opportunity for all nominees to accept or decline nomination.

Once the election had taken place and Mbeki invited people to join the new cabinet, "these people will similarly have an opportunity to accept or decline the invitation".

It was in this light that the party frowned on Maduna's announcement in the media.

The ANC also took issue with Maduna's contention that "the ANC is hurting badly" because of the wrangle between Deputy President Jacob Zuma and Scorpions boss Bulelani Ngcuka.

Said Maduna: "But I don't care anymore what this battle is doing. It has already done a lot of damage.

"Families are suffering. They can't take it any longer.

"I will serve in the ANC in any other capacity, even as a floor-sweeper."

The NWC said it discussed "allegations of corruption and apartheid-era spying" and "strongly refutes any suggestion that the ANC is divided as a result of these events".

"The leadership and membership of the ANC remains firmly united around the important task of working with the people to push back the frontiers of poverty.

"The ANC is united in its conviction that allegations of corruption against any individual should be thoroughly investigated by the relevant state agencies without fear or favour.

"The ANC is also unanimous in its endorsement of the principle that a person should be presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

"While the barrage of different and sometimes contradictory reports may have led to some confusion within the ranks of the movement, anyone who knows the ANC will realise that an issue of this nature is simply incapable of dividing the movement," the party statement said.

With acknowledgements to Jeremy Michaels and the Cape Times.