The party's leadership body met at the Kempton Park venue for the first time since it emerged victorious from the April polls.

NEC members arrived shortly after 2pm as party president Jacob Zuma was having lunch inside.

Greeted warmly by former ANC Youth League president Fikile Mbalula and other ANC bigwigs as she arrived for the meeting was Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who was set to return to Cabinet.

Journalists were allowed into the room where the party's leadership had assembled for a brief photo opportunity, before being ushered out again.

Zuma sat at the head of the table chatting to deputy president and ANC national chairperson, Baleka Mbete. ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe and his deputy Thandi Modise sat alongside Mbete as photographers snapped away.

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, sitting near the back of the room, grabbed the attention of camera crews during the brief photo opportunity.

Businessman Tokyo Sexwale, wearing a dark suit with a deep red tie, SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande, former spy boss Billy Masetlha, Tony Yengeni, Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile and other NEC members filed into the venue and greeted one another.

NEC members Colins Chabane and Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan were also present.

The ANC won eight provinces on 22 April ? Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape and Limpopo.

Meanwhile, the ANC in Gauteng had recommended three people for the position of provincial premier, with Mashatile its preferred candidate. The other two candidates were deputy ANC chairperson in the province Nomvula Mokonyane and deputy provincial secretary Mandla Nkomfe.

The party had resolved at its Polokwane conference to ensure gender parity in appointing premiers.

Each province submitted three names for premier.