But now the President's top loyalists launch public attacks on Zuma

President Thabo Mbeki insists that he and Jacob Zuma are not enemies and appears unfazed by the prospect of a humiliating defeat when the two contest the ANC presidency at the national conference at Polokwane.

Mbeki told the Cape Argus that there was no bad blood between him and his current ANC deputy and therefore no cause for concern despite acrimonious mudslinging between the two camps.

But a fresh series of blistering attacks was launched on Zuma by leading figures in government who are loyal to Mbeki.

At a weekend ANC fundraiser in East London attended by deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, business guests who each paid R50 000 a table were reportedly shocked when MEC for Housing Thoko Xasa repeated allegations that Zuma had bought shares in Nkobi Holdings a company involved in the arms deal after the ANC itself had declined to do so.

And in apparent reference to Zuma, Mlambo-Ngcuka told the gathering: "Do not be fooled by bravado nominations." She urged the business people to "invest" in Mbeki's campaign and promised that there would be "returns".

There were some, she said, who aspired to govern the country, but had no "understanding and sophistication".

And Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin launched a broadside reported in the City Press newspaper accusing Zuma's supporters of "using the media to campaign in the ANC".

He accused the ANC Women's League of sacrificing "sisterhood and respect" for the "expediency of electoral politics" by nominating Zuma.

Their remarks follow earlier statements by Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who have stepped into the campaign to increase Mbeki's support.

Last week Lekota called Zuma a liar and Tshabalala-Msimang urged league members to drop their nomination of Zuma and put up a woman candidate.

In a weekend interview, Mbeki said he and "Comrade Zuma" were not enemies and that despite widespread perceptions that they were divided, no one including those in the ANC's national executive committee could prove they were.

Mbeki did, however, implicitly question Zuma's sincerity, saying Zuma's concerns about too much power in the executive had never been raised when he was in the heart of the Presidency.

"He served in the Presidency, in government, the matter never arose. If there is such a problem, which there isn't, about power in the government … when did it start? There isn't any such thing."

At the weekend, various political commentators urged Mbeki either to withdraw from the race now to avoid defeat, or after Polokwane as president of the country if Zuma wins the ANC presidency, to avoid a potentially disruptive contest be-tween two centres of power.

Zuma, too, ignored calls to pull out of the increasingly destructive battle as he formally accepted his nomination this weekend, signing papers in London.

Zuma is on an international whistlestop tour to woo and reassure world leaders, while Mbeki launched a charm offensive in the Eastern Cape yesterday, as the drive for more support went into top gear.

Zuma was in the US today and sources said he was not expected to return until next weekend.

With acknowledgements to Moshoeshoe Monare, Angela Quintal, Jovial Rantao, Sibusiso Ngalwa, Murray Williams and Cape Argus.