Statements by Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) veterans in North West regarding the ANC leadership were not the view of the body's national structure, the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) said yesterday.

Statements by Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) veterans in North West regarding the ANC leadership were not the view of the body's national structure, the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) said yesterday.

"At national level, we've never pronounced on issues of leadership. Provinces are entitled to debate leadership but we can never say that it is a position of the MKMVA," said the organisation's treasurer, Dumisani Khoza.

The statement comes after MK veterans in North West said they had nominated Jacob Zuma for the post of ANC president.

ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe said nominations by the MKMVA currently had no standing in terms of the ANC's constitution. The MKMVA also had no voting rights.

Motlanthe said the ANC's national conference would consider giving MK veterans voting rights. The veterans still had a role to play in society by helping communities organise themselves in their efforts to fight poverty. - Sapa