No ANC representatives were present during a debate among various political parties about economic policies held on Wednesday at the University of Witwatersrand.

However, for a brief time their supporters made their presence loudly and vigorously heard.

Before the debate started, a few dozen ANC supporting students stood up in a half-filled Wits Great Hall and started singing and dancing that "we are with Zuma" and "the powers will run away".

On the other side of the hall, Cope supporters turned the performance into a sing-off as a smaller group of them also got up to sing and dance.

However the minute the event started, the panellists were announced and it became clear that the ANC was not represented, dozens of ANC supporters got up and left the hall, one even waving goodbye.

IFP representative Nareng Singh commented on the student's action saying "It's also good to be a good listener as well, not always talking."

Also represented at the debate were the United Democratic Movement, Freedom Front Plus, Democratic Alliance and Cope.

Debate organiser Thulani Fukade told the audience "the ANC was invited but they couldn't make it because they apparently had a manifesto launch at Gallagher Estate today".

"All of them?" muttered one of the panellists.