Former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils is suing Deputy Defence Minister Kebby Maphatsoe for defamation after accusing him of setting up President Jacob Zuma for a rape charge, City Press reported on Sunday.

Kasrils has filed summons in the High Court in Pretoria claiming R1 million, including legal fees, from Maphatsoe for his "false and derogatory statements".

Maphatsoe alleged Kasrils "handpicked" the woman who later accused Zuma of rape, and "sent" her to lay the charge. He made the remarks at a press briefing before last year's elections.

Kasrils said Maphatsoe had accused him of improper conduct when he was intelligence head of Umkhonto we Sizwe.

At the time the allegations were made, Kasrils was one of the leaders of a campaign to encourage the public to vote against the ANC or spoil their ballot.

According to court papers, Kasrils said Maphatsoe had not complied with a previous request to provide proof of his allegations or apologise.

The High Court in Johannesburg found Zuma not guilty of the rape charge in May 2006.