Gwede Mantashe made the claim while speaking to ANC members during the anti-racism march.

JOHANNESBURG - African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Gwede Mantashe has used today's anti-racism march to claim that he is aware of meetings at the US embassy designed to mobilise opposition to the party and plant the seeds of anarchy.

Thousands of supporters marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria today calling for a non-racial, united and democratic South Africa.

The ruling party leaders have called for citizens to put a stop to racism.

WATCH: ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa explains purpose of the march.

American Ambassador Patrick Gaspard has hit back at the claims, saying that people shouldn't blame others for their own challenges.

Mantashe made the claims against the US while speaking to ANC members during today's march.

"We are aware of the programme that takes young people to the United States for six weeks then bring them back and plant them everywhere in the campuses."

But Gaspard appeared to mock the claims, saying Mantashe should be aware of the programme because he personally invited him to recommend young ANC leaders for it.

He also says that he'd always imagined that if he was going to organise a coup, it would look like a Mardi Gras with music, food and dance.