ANC conference kicks off amid court challenges and calls for unity

The run-up to the conference was marred by court challenges in several provinces, with disgruntled ANC members questioning the way in which the party runs its affairs.

Questions around the legitimacy of delegates could ultimately see the collapse of the conference.

However, outgoing secretary general of the ANC, Gwede Mantashe, insists that nothing will derail the conference.

"We are hoping to come out of this conference unified", says Mantashe. 

The battle of credentials is expected to be a drawn out one as it will decide who will be able to vote for the new leadership.

The expansion of the party's leadership from a top six to a top eight, could also take place on the first day of the conference, while outgoing ANC President Jacob Zuma will deliver his political report on Saturday.

Mantashe says he's certain that the two presidential candidates, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa will ultimately accept the outcome of the election.

"The conference result has been a thing for some time now, including the last supper of the president, where everyone of them committed to accept the outcome of the conference," Mantashe says. 

Meanwhile, the party's NEC has called a special meeting, following Friday's court rulings that nullified both the Free State and Kwa Zulu Natal Provincial Elective Conferences. 

Minister in the presidency, Jeff Radebe, confirmed that the emergency meeting will take place on Saturday morning.

"We are having an NEC meeting, so we will take it from there. We are a constitutional democracy, so anyone is any party is entitled to go to court, but we'll see what happens after one has read the judgement," Radebe says.