Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba has warned people to vote next year to prevent "oppressors" from gaining control of the government, the Star reported on Monday.
Speaking in Ga-Mokgoba, near Tzaneen on Saturday, the ANC national executive member reportedly claimed that opposition parties would work together against the ruling party and try to halt economic transformation.
"If they [the public] do not register to vote, those who have oppressed us before and now claim that they love us will come back to rule this country," he was quoted as saying.
Later, speaking at an ANC Youth League 69th anniversary lecture in Kgapane Township, Modjadjiskloof, also in Limpopo, he repeated these sentiments.
'Slow down transformation'
"Our opponents have made it very clear that the economic transformation they seek is the one that will kill black people as proletariat of white capital," Gigaba reportedly said.
"If support … drops, the opposition will club together to slow down transformation."
Last week ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa reportedly warned Limpopo residents to vote or the "boers" would take back power.
He was at the time speaking to disgruntled resident Johanna Phala (49), who had vowed not to vote in next year's elections because the ANC had disappointed her.
The unemployed single mother-of-three blamed the high unemployment rate on the ANC and said she had lost hope in the party.
Ramaphosa asked her to reconsider her anger towards the ANC-led government.
'We will regress'
He was in Seshego to drum up party support.
"If all South Africans don't vote, we will regress. The boers will come back to control us," he said. – Sapa