The youth wing of South Africa's ruling ANC accused state prosecutors on Friday of acting like apartheid agents in pursuing charges against former Deputy President Jacob Zuma, fanning political tensions around the highly charged case.
The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) statement followed a warning from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Thursday that its spokesman Zizi Kodwa could face incitement charges for statements made outside Zuma's on-going rape trial.
"Typical of an apartheid Special Branch, the NPA has sought to use law mischievously to suit its end, and to intimidate those who criticise it," the league said in a statement.
"We reiterate our criticism about the NPA's conduct and its lack of independence without undue pressure. Respect is not something that is conferred, it is earned, the actions of the NPA constitute an incitement of the greatest disorder."
The league statement hinted at deepening divisions within the ruling party over Zuma, who was seen as the front-runner to succeed President Thabo Mbeki before prosecutors brought separate graft and rape charges against him last year .
Zuma has been fired as Mbeki's deputy but remains deputy president of the ANC and continues to draw strong support from unions and the league, which lies politically to the left of its parent organisation.
Political tensions have been evident outside the Johannesburg court where Zuma's rape trial is under way, with his supporters rallying in often belligerent demonstrations of solidarity with the accused.
The NPA said on Thursday it might bring incitement charges against the Youth League's Kodwa after a newspaper reported that he urged Zuma supporters to "hit dogs very hard to force their owner and handler to come out in the open" - a statement it interpreted as an attack on NPA chief Vusi Pikoli.
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