The ANC has been asked to provide whatever information it has on spies relating to its cadre Bulelani Ngcuka - or face a subpoena.

This followed information that the party had itself done an investigation into possibilities that some of its cadres colluded with the apartheid regime.

Hefer Commission spokesperson John Bacon said yesterday that a letter had been sent to ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe to provide information that could assist in carrying out the commission's terms of reference. The ANC had not responded to the letter.

The commission was triggered by a report in City Press by senior journalist Ranjeni Munusamy, who at the time worked for the Sunday Times, alleging that Ngcuka was investigated by the people now being investigated by the Scorpions on allegations that he was a spy.

The report did not indicate whether the ANC's investigation had found that the Scorpions chief was a spy.

President Thabo Mbeki then appointed a commission to establish whether Ngcuka was an apartheid-era spy and whether he had abused his office in settling old scores.

Motlanthe was unavailable for comment yesterday.

The ANC, in a statement issued yesterday by its spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama following a weekend meeting of the party's national working committee, rejected claims that allegations of corruption and spying against its senior members had had a divisive effect on the party.

With acknowledgements to Makhudu Sefara and The Star.