Every five years, the ruling party’s highest decision-making body meets to elect its executive leadership and decide on policy positions for the coming term.

The election of the party’s Top Six leadership positions will be a big item on the agenda. If branch nominations are anything to go by, Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to win another term as party president and President of South Africa, as Stephen Grootes writes here:

One step closer to ultimate victory, Ramaphosa and Mashatile dominate ANC branch nominations

ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile (Photo: Gallo Images / Luba Lesolle) | President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Tolga Akmen).

The National Executive Committee (NEC) is also elected during the conference. This year is the first time certain party members have been prevented from being elected due to the party’s new step-aside rule. Read more about it here:

Tony Yengeni free to contest for ANC NEC position after winning appeal against disqualification

National executive committee member Tony Yengeni in Johannesburg, South Africa on June 23, 2012. (Photo: Gallo Images / City press / Lucky Nxumalo)

Lastly, after lengthy discussions, the ANC National Conference also votes on important policy positions, like land expropriation and the nationalisation of the South African Reserve Bank, as is expected this year.

Step-aside rule remains but ANC renews push for SA Reserve Bank nationalisation

Unsplash / Jeremy Bezange | The South African Reserve Bank building in Pretoria, South Africa on 10 February 2012. (Photo: Gallo Images / Foto24 / Alet Pretorius) | Adobe Stock