Johannesburg — LUTHULI House yesterday seemed to have averted any bloodshed at the African National Congress' (ANC's) national list conference this weekend by manoeuvring successfully to unite divergent interests in the party.

It is understood that the conference, led by secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, managed to co-opt divergent interests, to emerge with a consolidated national list of 777 preferred leaders to be deployed to the National Assembly after this year's general elections.

The ANC had to consolidate nine provincial lists and please all of its factions while also wooing supporters of former president Thabo Mbeki in a deliberate strategy to maintain unity in the face of possible defections to the Congress of the People (COPE).

It is understood that cabinet ministers who are seen as central to the ANC's election promises made a strong showing on the ANC's list.

These include Education Minister Naledi Pandor and Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa.

The names of ANC national executive committee members Tony Yengeni and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela are said to have stayed on the list of candidates, even though they are not eligible to serve in Parliament because of criminal convictions.

In an apparent reference to Madikizela-Mandela and Yengeni, Mantashe is understood to have urged, during the conference, that people should do the "honourable thing" and step aside.

The ANC sought consensus apparently to negate the tide of bad publicity over leadership tussles. However, the result is that the country still has no clear indication as to the balance of forces in the ruling party.

Having secured the popular vote, Zuma, the ANC's presidential candidate, is at the top of the party's national list of candidates.

The party also came out in support of its deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, who has come in for severe criticism from within and outside the party in recent weeks. He is number two on the national list, followed by Deputy President (of SA) Baleka Mbete.

The ANC yesterday refused to give credence to media reports alleging a plot against Motlanthe.

ANC spokeswoman Jessie Duarte said the party would "not comment on mere speculation". Her colleague, Carl Niehaus, said: "Our support for him (Motlanthe) is strong."