African National Congress Secretary General Gwede Mantashe has criticised Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille saying that she has elevated herself from the official opposition to the enemy.

“You can see that this name Jacob Zuma or ANC is working on her nerves and she has elevated her role from that of opposition to that of the enemy,” Mantashe proclaimed emphatically.

Mantashe addressed a trade union National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA) summit in Boksburg on the East Rand on Tuesday.

The comments were made after a bitter war of words between the Western Cape Premier and the ANC Youth League.

The public spat began when Zille critisised newly elected President Jacob Zuma prompting an angry and acrimonious response from the league.