North West - President Jacob Zuma and deputy ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa visited Tlokwe in the North West for talks with divided city council members, Beeld reported on Tuesday.
Divisions between Tlokwe ANC councillors resulted in a motion of no confidence being passed in mayor Maphetle Maphetle in November 2012, and the Democratic Alliance's Annette Combrink replacing him.
Beeld reported that Zuma, Ramaphosa, African National Congress secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and ANC national chairwoman Baleka Mbete made an unannounced visit to the municipality, which runs Potchefstroom.
ANC members initially told Beeld photographers they did not want pictures to be taken of the president visiting the town, the Afrikaans daily reported.
Late on Monday afternoon, Mantashe told reporters that the leaders were there to discuss numerous problems in the North West and were not looking at Tlokwe in isolation.
Zuma's spokesman, Mac Maharaj, denied rumours that Zuma could dissolve the whole Tlokwe city council if unity was not be achieved. He told Beeld no such plans existed.
ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said in a statement on Monday evening that an ANC council meeting had been scheduled for February 26, where an attempt would be made to reinstate Maphetle. - Sapa