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 — Kgalema Motlanthe could well resign from government and leave the way clear for President Jacob Zuma to bring Cyril Ramaphosa in as deputy president of the country immediately, rather than waiting until 2014.

Motlanthe has had to accept that Jacob Zuma beat him by 2983 votes to 991 in a secret ballot. At the same time, Cyril Ramphosa received 3,018 votes from delegates which makes him one of the most popular if not the most popular individual in the ANC right now.

Kgalema Motlanthe probably made the most moving speech of his career when he announced he would not stand for the NEC.

Motlanthe who had dedicated 15 years as an ANC office-bearer, 10 as Secretary-General and 5 as Deputy President, thanked the party's substructures and South African citizens for giving him a chance to serve them.

Delegates gave him a rousing standing ovation.

Kgaleme told them: "ANC is an epitome of democracy. And so we must continue to champion democracy in our country and the world over."

He said South Africa must de-racialise and rid itself of sexism.

"We must attend to economic challenges of the poverty, inequality and unemployment and use the mandate given by our people."

Even though he was the loser, he endorsed the new leadership, saying: "The leadership was elected by the entire membership of the African National Congress."

He ended off by thanking Zuma for allowing him to speak even though protocol didn't allow him to.