Thousands of delegates attended the 53rd African National Congress (ANC) Conference at the University of the Free State in Mangaung aimed at appointing the ruling party's top six leadership positions.

The top guns arrived in their luxurious Mercedes and BMWs...(PHOTO ESSAY: South Africa's ANC National Congress 2012 )

Mangaung will not bring about any drastic leadership changes within the ANC. Three of the six probable winners might be new to the positions, but their place in the safari has been long secured.

Here's the Big 5 and the Buffalo:

President: Jacob Zuma

Deputy President: Cyril Ramaphosa

National Chair: Baleka Mbete

Secretary General: Gwede Mantashe

Deputy Secretary General: Jessie Duarte (DSG-elect : stood uncontested and was elected in accordance with the ANC's constitution)

Treasurer General: Zweli Mkhize

A quick glance at the list will show you that not only are these Zuma pawns in the game against Motlanthe but they're also accomplished politicians in their own right. Their political will over the next 5 years will be tested from within the ANC. For the ANC to remain a powerhouse its leadership needs to deal substantively with key challenges - the rot of corruption, organization inefficiency and the inability to translate policy into reality. This is unlikely to happen.