---
title: "#ANCdecides2017: 54th National Conference Day 1 in pictures"
description: "An issue around delegate accreditation and credentials brought a delay to the start of the ANC elective conference at Nasrec in Johannesburg. Delegates wiled away the more than six hours – before ANC president Jacob Zuma took to the podium to deliver his final political report – by singing songs in support of their preferred nominees. DAILY MAVERICK PHOTOGRAPHERS captured some of the more candid moments."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "South Africa"
author: "Daily Maverick"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/dailymaverick/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-12-16-ancdecides2017-54th-national-conference-day-1-in-pictures/"
published: "2017-12-16T20:44:03"
updated: "2017-12-16T20:44:25"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 273
---

# #ANCdecides2017: 54th National Conference Day 1 in pictures

> An issue around delegate accreditation and credentials brought a delay to the start of the ANC elective conference at Nasrec in Johannesburg. Delegates wiled away the more than six hours – before ANC president Jacob Zuma took to the podium to deliver his final political report – by singing songs in support of their preferred nominees. DAILY MAVERICK PHOTOGRAPHERS captured some of the more candid moments.

By Daily Maverick · Published 16 December 2017, 22:44 SAST · Updated 16 December 2017, 22:44 SAST

## Content

![Image](//images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/750x436q70delegatesHangAbout.jpg)

*Photo: Delegates take a break from singing while they wait for the conference to start.**Photo: Daily Maverick*

![Image](//images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/750x436q70ANCT-shirt.jpg)

*Photo: Before the conference, delegates were encouraged to show unity by not wearing T-shirts bearing individual nominees’ faces. On the first day it appeared that most had heeded this call. Photo: Daily Maverick*

![Image](//images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/750x500q70ANCFlag.jpg)

*Photo: Delegates waved the ANC flag as they sang and danced around the venue. Photo: Daily Maverick*

![Image](//images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/750x436q70gwede.jpg)

*Photo: It fell to outgoing Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe to provide an explanation to the media around the delay. ‘We don’t want anything that will contaminate the outcome of conference,’ he said. Photo: Daily Maverick/Leila Dougan*

![Image](//images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/750x499q70JZ-CR.jpg)

*Photo: Outgoing ANC President Jacob Zuma chats with his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa before the start of the ANC’s elective conference. Photo: Daily Maverick*

![Image](//images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/750x499q70lindiwelaugh.jpg)

*Photo: Lindiwe Sisulu and ANC presidential hopeful Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma can be seen sharing a laugh before the start of the ANC’s elective conference. Photo: Daily Maverick*

![Image](//images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/750x499q70mpumalanga.jpg)

*Photo: Delegates from Mpumalanga can be seen inside the plenary hall before the start of the ANC’s elective conference. Photo : Daily Maverick*

![Image](//images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/750x499q70winnie.jpg)

*Photo: Winnie Mandela greets ANC presidential hopeful Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma with a kiss inside the plenary hall before the start of the ANC’s elective conference. Photo: Daily Maverick*

![Image](//images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/750x499q70Zweli.jpg)

*Photo: ANC presidential hopeful Cyril Ramaphosa flanked by Treasurer-General Zweli Mkize. Photo: Daily Maverick*

![Image](//images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/750x436q70bathabile.jpg)

*Photo: Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini listens to Tony Yengeni. Photo: Daily Maverick/Leila Dougan*

![Image](//images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/750x436q70Zuma.jpg)

*Photo: ANC president Jacob Zuma in contemplative mood ahead of delivering his Political Report. Photo: Daily Maverick/Leila Dougan***DM**

*Photo: Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa share a light moment before the start of the conference. Photo: Daily Maverick*