Deputy President Jacob Zuma cannot forgive his ANC comrades - Scorpions boss Bulelani Ngcuka and Justice Minister Penuell Maduna - and will take them to task "at the right time" for dragging his name through the mud.

Responding to Independent Newspapers' questions about whether he was still upset with Ngcuka and Maduna, Zuma said: "I've expressed that - I haven't stood up to say 'I've now changed my mind about it'; I've expressed that very clearly."

Zuma complained bitterly about Ngcuka, the National Director of Public Prosecutions, and Maduna after they appeared at a press conference two months ago where Ngcuka said the deputy president had a "prima facie case of corruption" to answer, but declined to prosecute because "we are not sure we have a winnable case".

"That's a different matter which doesn't fall within the ambit of this (Hefer) commission - that one remains with me," Zuma said.

"At the right time when I think I need to say what it is that I am doing, I will say it; this time is not the moment for me to say that."

Zuma's office indicated on Thursday that a statement by the ANC indicating that there was "no need" for Zuma to appear before the commission was a response to Judge Joos Hefer's invitation last Friday for the Deputy Presidnet to testify before the spy commission in Bloemfontein.

Zuma said he had already replied to the commission's request, adding that "my response is in keeping with what the ANC is saying".

Zuma's spokesperson, Lakela Kaunda, said earlier on Thursday the Deputy President could use "other avenues (than the Hefer Commission)" to pursue his case against Ngcuka and Maduna.

Commission spokesperson John Bacon confirmed on Thursday that he had written to Zuma last week, but declined to give details.

Independent Newspapers understands that Hefer was keen on Zuma - who was once head of ANC intelligence - testifying to his knowledge of spying activities during the apartheid years.

Former Transport Minister Mac Maharaj and Mo Shaik - both of whom operated under Zuma in the ANC's intelligence structures - have supported media reports that Ngcuka was investigated by the ANC for being a spy.

They have since come under pressure to substantiate their claims, but the State's intelligence agencies have refused to release any documentation to the commission.

ANC spokesperson, Smuts Ngonyama, issued a statement on Thursday saying there was "no basis" for Zuma to appear before the Hefer Commission - set up by President Mbeki to investigate whether Ngcuka and Maduna had abused their offices due to past obligations as spies for the apartheid regime.

A certain Mr X has been named by two witnesses at the commission as the real informer Johannesburg attorney Patrick Ntobeko Maqubela, a former MK operative sentenced in 1982 to 20 years for high treason, told the commission he knew perfectly well who had informed the security police about his secret activities and those of his MK cell, and that this person was not Ngcuka.

With acknowledgements to Jeremy Michaels and the Pretoria News.