Two men alleged to have been involved in concocting the recent "assassination plot" against ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma have lambasted the City Press newspaper at a news conference in Durban.

Barnabas Xulu, administrator of the Zuma Trust, and Peete Mbambo read out a statement at a Durban hotel yesterday, saying the City Press story "debunking the claim of an assassination plot" was "riddled with inaccuracies and untruths which appear to have been manufactured".

City Press reported that the "assassination plot" against ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma was a "poorly thought-through hoax" centring on a vagrant who was paid R2 000 to make the claim.

City Press said a core of six people were behind the hoax. The hobo, Ben Wyland Coetzee, had been arrested and had reportedly confessed to police in a detailed affidavit.

"Neither of us are part of any team that is behind the assassination hoax," said Xulu.

"If this is what newspaper ethics have sunken to these journalists should be ashamed to call themselves watchdogs.

"We are saddened by the cavalier way in which this article was assembled and we call upon all journalists to distance themselves from such poor quality and sloppy journalism."

Xulu said that both he and Mbambo reserved the right to sue the newspaper for the "malicious slander".

He said the two men had "unconditional trust" in the police and in how their investigations were conducted.

Mbambo said City Press had painted "an untruthful picture".

He denied outright paying Coetzee R2 000.

After reading out the statement, neither of the two men were prepared to answer any questions, saying: "We are not prepared to interfere with a sensitive police investigation."

City Press editor Mathatha Tsedu could not be reached for comment.

Police spokeswoman Director Sally de Beer said yesterday that she was not prepared to comment. - Sapa

With acknowledgement to Sapa and Cape Argus.