In a bizarre turn in the 007-style theft of Democratic Alliance spin doctor Ryan Coetzee's stolen laptop, the African National Congress claims its members are in discussions with former New National Party politicians who are on the DA's "hitlist".
The hitlist, alleges the ANC's Garth Strachan, includes NNP politicians in senior positions in the province.
Speculation has grown over the last few days that the laptop theft may also have been a plan to "clip" Coetzee's wings.
He is a 27-year-old former DP youth leader who over the last few years has risen to dizzying heights at the side of DA leader Tony Leon.
"We do not want to name the New NP politicians at this time because of the sensitivity surrounding our talks with them, but their fears of being axed from the DA are very real," said Strachan on Thursday.
Coetzee has repeatedly denied the existence of any such master plan to oust NNP politicians.
The grey laptop which contained, among other things, correspondence between Coetzee and Leon outlining a strategy which has been interpreted as a move to effectively sideline DA deputy leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk, was stolen on Valentine's Day from Coetzee's office in the provincial legislature.
However, Coetzee has repeatedly denied that there is a master plan to eliminate former NNP leaders, while the ANC alleges that the computer contained Leon's plan to do just that.
In another twist to the unfolding saga, Coetzee has struck the ANC off his list of suspects he thinks may have stolen the computer.
However, the ANC has taken legal advice and may proceed with a defamation action against Leon and Coetzee for alleging it had stolen the laptop.
"All I know is that the laptop was stolen, that I've laid a charge with the police and they're investigating it, and that the source who spoke to the reporter who covered the initial story said the ANC had my laptop. I suspect that the source lied," said Coetzee.
He also said that since the theft, he no longer leaves his office unlocked when he leaves it.
The ANC's Max Ozinsky said it had sought legal advice and would sue Coetzee and Leon for publicly alleging it had stolen the computer.
The missing laptop saga surfaced last weekend when excerpts of a letter on Coetzee's computer referring to an alleged plan to oust Van Schalkwyk, were published.
In the letter to Leon, Coetzee is alleged to have said : "The best way to deal with him (Van Schalkwyk) is to forget about him. Focus outwards. Don't worry about whether he is getting publicity or pictures in the newspapers. Because if you throw everything into projecting outwards you will overshadow him completely. He can never compete with you when it comes to personifying a cause."
When reports of the letter surfaced, Coetzee accused the ANC of having a hand in the theft of the laptop.
In the run-up to the theft, there were repeated allegations that the DA is split down old party lines and that there is a fierce political fight between the former DP and the former NNP.