Those accusing Bulelani Ngcuka of being an apartheid-era spy have suffered yet another blow.

The ANC revealed yesterday that Deputy President Jacob Zuma does not have any information that supports Mac Maharaj and Mo Shaik's accusation.

ANC head of presidency Smuts Ngonyama said that as far as the ANC knew, all documents and related information gathered by the ANC at a time when Zuma was the party's head of intelligence had been handed over to the relevant intelligence agencies.

Ngonyama emphasised that Zuma had "worked not in his personal capacity but as part of the structures of the ANC, and was accountable to the structures of the ANC".

And he further said the ANC had indicated that all its "ANC records with respect to matters of intelligence were handed over to the relevant state institutions during the period of transition. The ANC has no records relevant to the brief of the Hefer Commission."

Ngonyama's explanation meant that if there is anyone who could either prove or disprove allegations that Ngcuka was an apartheid-era spy, it is not the ANC.

"We are not combative. We have never said that Ngcuka is a spy - it's Maharaj and Shaik who accused Ngcuka. They must prove that, not the ANC."

He added that Zuma had no records with him that warranted him to appear before the Hefer Commission.

"As far as we understand, he was not accountable to himself but to the collective leadership of the ANC," said Ngonyama.

"And the ANC has decided to hand over all its records to the state. So we know him (Zuma) to have no records."

This means that if Zuma has any records, he would have kept it in defiance of ANC resolutions.

Ngonyama's remarks came at a time when former minister of transport Maharaj and former ANC intelligence operative Shaik are hard pressed to provide documents as a basis for making claims that Ngcuka was investigated by the ANC as a possible spy.

Those who've appeared before the commission have expressed their surprise at claims that Ngcuka could ever have been a spy.

With acknowledgements to Makhudu Sefara and The Star.