Hundreds of ANC delegates gathered in Kuruman on Monday for the party's Northern Cape conference.

On Monday afternoon the lawn in front of the Kuruman municipal hall was packed with singing and dancing supporters of current provincial Chairperson John Block and provincial Secretary Neville Mompati, who are vying for the party's top provincial post.

The delegates have been arriving by minibuses and buses throughout the day to register for the conference that starts on Tuesday.

The two opposing groups were constantly trying to out-sing and -dance the other while waiting for conference accreditation cards.

Spokesperson for the media sub-committee for the conference, Pauline Williams, said the registration process was running smoothly by 5pm on Monday.

"We are done with two regions and will start with the others soon."

The run-up to the conference the past month has been marred by various incidents of violence, court challenges and alleged fist fights at the provincial office in Kimberley over the weekend.

It was reported on Monday that one of the victims of an assault at a regional conference in the Namakwa region (Springbok) has died from his injuries.

Inquest docket opened

Superintendent Hendrik Swart said no official charge had been laid about the incident on Monday.

"Police have opened an inquest docket to investigate the death of a man in Upington."

A post mortem would be held on Tuesday which would guide the investigation.

He said it was not officially known if the man was linked to the assault at the regional conference.

ANC national spokesperson Steyn Speed said the conference would continue on Tuesday.

This follows calls by the Frances Baard region (Kimberley) that the conference be postponed.

Reports of fist fights between ANC members at the provincial head offices in Kimberley, where NEC members were apparently trying to address internal disputes, could not be confirmed on Monday.

The conference will take place at the Moshaweng Municipal Complex outside Kuruman.

A huge police presence was evident in Kuruman on Monday night.

Members of a private security firm were also deployed at the municipal hall where the registration process was continuing at 7pm.

Sapa