THE South African Communist Party says it will fend off any attempts to force the succession debate on to the ANC national general council agenda next month.

ANC Youth League members have already started their campaign to replace ANC general secretary general Gwede Mantashe with Deputy Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula. Even President Jacob Zuma's second term is in doubt as he has come under increasing pressure from alliance partners.

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has been scathing in his criticism of the Zuma administration, while the ANCYL has also criticised Zuma and other leaders.

The campaign for Mbalula gained momentum during the ANCYL NGC in Midrand last week when delegates sang his praises.

Without mentioning the ANCYL, SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande said they would crush attempts to introduce issues related to leadership during the NGC.

"The SACP will vigorously struggle against all attempts to divert the NGC from its critical policy consolidation role by diverting it into factional power plays and unseemly and premature 2012 electoral battles."

Nzimande, who was addressing the media in Johannesburg yesterday, said the SACP was concerned that the quality of NGC discussion documents were uneven.

Nzimande said that the ongoing public service strike should end as it had the potential to cause more tensions during the NGC. He said workers' demands were legitimate and the party supported their struggle.