'Slates in ANC leadership race worse than ever'
Professor at the Wits School of Governance, Susan Booysen, believes the divides in the African National Congress (ANC) runs deeper than at any time in the party's history.
Cyril Ramaphosa and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma are battling it out to be elected as the new ANC president at the ANC's elective conference in Nasrec, south of Johannesburg.
Booysen says the leadership battle is a fiercely contested one.
"The divides and acrimony between the two slates are just so tangible and severe. I am not saying the party will split but there will be acrimony and contestation.
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"The factions will not live happily ever after following this election. Let's say Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's faction loose; I don't think they will splurge off but they will definitely be very unhappy".
Booysen also says Dlamini-Zuma is facing an uphill battle to be elected as the first female president of the ANC.
She says Dlamini-Zuma has had to use "acts of persuasion" to lure delegates to vote for her.
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"She will try to use ideas and narratives of change to persuade delegates that they are actually implementing great values.
"They don't have the Guptas or Bell Pottinger but they will get other people to do this."