Cape Town — ANC president Jacob Zuma has received the official seal of approval from Nelson Mandela, who has praised him as a unifier, reconciler and a man committed to collective leadership.

He has also urged the divided ANC to rally behind Zuma.

Mandela, who chose to step down as party leader after one term in favour of Thabo Mbeki in 1997, said it was inevitable the results of the Polokwane elections would be interpreted by some "as an overwhelming victory for one camp or faction over another".

In a message of congratulation to the ruling party's new guard, he said: "Our experience of Comrade Zuma is of a person and leader who is inclusive in his approach, a unifier and one who values reconciliation and collective leadership.

"We have no doubt that he will bring those well-known characteristics to his task of leading our organisation."

Mandela, who opted not to take sides in the leadership battle, did not attend the conference in Limpopo.

Instead he sent a message to delegates calling for unity, prompting a special word of thanks from Zuma in his maiden speech as ANC president on Thursday.

Referring to the newly elected 86-member national executive committee which will lead the party for the next five years, he said: "Through the democratic processes of the organisation they as a collective have been mandated by the membership with the great responsibility of steering and guiding us through this challenging period ahead.

"We have full confidence that they will approach and execute this important national task with wisdom, humility and dedication to the common good."

Last week, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela made an impassioned plea to her ANC comrades to heal the deep rifts in the party and said she feared what would happen after Polokwane, given the divisions.

Madikizela-Mandela, who on the eve of the conference launched a highly publicised but unsuccessful last-minute bid to mediate between Mbeki and Zuma, mustered the most votes during the election for additional NEC members.

She returns to the highest leadership body in between conferences after an absence of five years.