The ANC in the Northern Cape has dismissed allegations of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa's extramarital affairs as an apartheid-style strategy aimed at dividing the party.
The provincial branch has reiterated its support for Ramaphosa, urging its branches not to be deterred by the allegations.
"The ANC in the Northern Cape has noted with utter disgust the allegations leveled against [Ramaphosa]. We are of the firm view that this is an attempt at tarnishing the good image of not only the office that [Ramaphosa] occupies, but that of [Ramaphosa's] person," it said.
"This apartheid ... method aimed at dividing the ANC is rather unfortunate and we foresee the same method employed in the province."
The party called on Ramaphosa to expose those who are involved in "Guptagate" and salvage "the good image" of the ANC.
"We would like to unreservedly apologise to the families of all the girls who have been linked to the alleged extramarital affairs of the deputy president," it said.
The Sunday Independent reported that Ramaphosa had a number of affairs and has copies of Ramaphosa's emails to back up its claim.
The deputy president described the leaked emails as part of a smear campaign, admitting he had an affair with his doctor almost a decade ago and had resolved this with his wife.